Address at the New Year Tea Gathering of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

Comrades and friends:

At this auspicious moment of bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new, we gather together to discuss national affairs and exchange warm greetings. It is with great pleasure that we come together.

First, on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission, I extend festive greetings to the democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, non-affiliated individuals, and people's organizations; to the broad masses of workers, farmers, intellectuals, cadres, and people from all walks of life across the nation; and to the officers and soldiers of the People's Liberation Army, officers and soldiers of the People's Armed Police Force, public security officers, and fire and rescue personnel; to our compatriots in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan, as well as overseas Chinese; and to friends from all countries who care about and support China's modernization drive. Happy New Year to all!

The year 2021 stands as a milestone in both the history of the Communist Party of China and the history of the Chinese nation. The Party celebrated its centenary, the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee adopted the Party's third historical resolution, and the first centenary goal was successfully achieved. China has built a moderately prosperous society in all respects, historically resolved the problem of absolute poverty, and embarked on a new journey to fully build a modern socialist country and advance toward the second centenary goal.

This year, confronting complex and severe international circumstances alongside arduous domestic tasks of reform, development, and stability, the CPC Central Committee united and led people of all ethnic groups across the country. We calmly navigated the century-long transformation and the pandemic of the century, made new strides in building a new development paradigm, achieved fresh progress in high-quality development, accelerated the growth of national strategic scientific and technological capabilities, and ensured robust and effective safeguards for people's livelihoods. Ecological civilization construction continued to advance, flood control, disaster relief, and post-disaster recovery efforts were robust and effective, the modernization of national defense and the armed forces accelerated, whole-process people's democracy continued to develop, Party history education achieved remarkable results, and full and rigorous Party self-governance deepened. China maintained a leading position globally in economic development and pandemic control, achieving a strong start to the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

This year, we continued to advance comprehensive deepening of reforms. The 50 key reform tasks deployed by the Central Committee for Deepening Overall Reform and 61 other reform tasks were basically completed. Relevant departments of the central and state organs also completed 105 reform tasks. A total of 216 reform plans were introduced in various fields, achieving the goal of making our Party's systems more mature and well-established in all respects by the time of its centenary.

 This year, we adhered to the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, implemented the fundamental principles of “patriots administering Hong Kong” and “patriots administering Macao,” supported Hong Kong and Macao in developing their economies and improving people's livelihoods, supported and promoted Hong Kong's transition from chaos to governance and return to the right track, and maintained Macao's prosperity and stability. We upheld the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, strengthened the momentum against separatism and for reunification, effectively responded to external challenges, and advanced the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. Guided by the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, we championed genuine multilateralism, made solid progress in jointly building the Belt and Road, fulfilled our commitment to treat vaccines as a global public good, and resolutely safeguarded our national sovereignty, security, and development interests, making positive contributions to promoting world peace and development!

Comrades and friends!

In 2022. the Communist Party of China will convene its 20th National Congress. This marks a major event in the political life of our Party and our nation. We must continue to uphold the spirit of historical initiative, seize the momentum, forge ahead with determination, and navigate the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. We are prepared to make even more arduous and strenuous efforts, focusing on maintaining a stable and healthy economic environment, a clean and upright political environment, and a peaceful and prosperous social environment. We will welcome the successful convening of the 20th CPC National Congress with concrete actions.

Comrades and friends!

In 2021. the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference earnestly implemented the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee, adhered to the two major themes of unity and democracy, advanced the development of specialized consultative bodies, strengthened ideological and political guidance, conscientiously carried out education on the “Four Histories” with a focus on the history of the CPC, engaged in in-depth consultation and democratic oversight to ensure a strong start for the 14th Five-Year Plan, actively reflected public sentiment, innovated forms of duty fulfillment, and organized commemorative activities for the 110th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution, making new contributions to the development of the Party and the country.

In the new year, we must uphold and improve the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, consolidate and develop the broadest patriotic united front, study and implement the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, carry out the spirit of the Central Conference on the Work of the CPPCC, offer advice and suggestions in line with the overall situation, grasp public sentiment and will, better build consensus, and strive to gather wisdom and strength for achieving the goals and tasks of the Party and the country.

Comrades and friends!

Strength comes from unity, and happiness springs from struggle. Unity and struggle represent the precious spiritual qualities forged over a century by the Chinese Communists, the Chinese people, and the Chinese nation. Let us hold high the banner of ideals and convictions, strengthen the great unity of the Chinese people, harness the tremendous power of unity, maintain steadfast determination in our actions, and display the majestic spirit of a tiger. Let us strive to achieve new and even greater victories and glory!

Thank you all.

　　《 人民日报 》( 2022年01月01日 02 版)