A Long and Glorious Journey Towards Our Dreams*

October 23, 2022

A moment ago we concluded the First Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee which elected a new central leadership. I was reelected general secretary of the Central Committee. Now I would like to present to you the six other members of the Standing Commit­tee of the Political Bureau: Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi.

Zhao Leji and Wang Huning were members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Commit­tee, and the other colleagues were members of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee, so I think they should all be famil­iar to you.

On behalf of the CPC's new central leadership, let me take this opportunity to extend our sincere thanks to the whole Party for their trust. We will always bear in mind our Party's nature and purpose, and our mission and responsibility. We will work diligently in performing our duties so that we may prove worthy of the confidence the Party and the people have placed in us.

Thanks to the concerted efforts of the entire Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, we have achieved the First Cente­nary Goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects within the set timeframe. Now we are embarking confidently on a new journey towards the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a modern socialist country, and striving to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through a Chinese path to modernization.

– On the journey ahead, we must always maintain an enterprising spirit. Building a modern socialist country is the long-cherished goal and dream of the Chinese nation, which carries within it all the hard work and struggle of the Chinese people. Chinese modernization is the result of many years of effort and reflects the experience gained by the CPC and the Chinese people. It is a grand and arduous undertaking, yet it is precisely its enormity and complexity that make it great and glorious.

Countless Chinese have dedicated themselves to this worthy cause, building their success from modest beginnings through persever­ance and hard work. We will always remember their dedication and sacrifice. For our part, we must work hard and rise to the challenge. We must show greater initiative in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of our times, write new chapters in the devel­opment of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and strive to achieve the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

– On the journey ahead, we must ensure that in everything we do, we work for the people and rely on the people. All our tremendous achievements to date have been made by relying closely on the people, and we will continue to look to their support in the future to secure new achievements.

The journey ahead is long and arduous, but with determined steps, we will reach our destination. We will not be daunted by high winds, turbulent waters, or dangerous storms, for the people will always be our backing and source of confidence. We will always stand together with the people and share an unbreakable bond with them. By making their priorities our own and turning their wishes into reality, we will continue working to realize their aspirations for a better life.

– On the journey ahead, we must always advance reform within the Party. A political party can only achieve lasting greatness if it remains committed to its original aspiration through whatever hard­ ships it might endure; it can only become invincible if it remains committed to reforming itself whatever successes it might previously have achieved. The revolutionary travails and tempering of the past century, especially those of the first decade of the present new era, have made our Party stronger and more dynamic.

As we encounter new challenges and trials on the journey ahead, we must remain alert, always prudent and sober-minded as if we were an examinee. We must make consistent efforts to exercise full and rigor­ous internal Party governance. We must ensure that our century-old Party will become ever more vigorous through self-reform and contin­ue to be the most solid buttress that supports the Chinese people.

– On the journey ahead, we must always champion humanity's common values. The world is grappling with unprecedented challeng­es. We have consistently called on the peoples of the world to take hold of and shape the future of humanity. When all countries seek the common good, we can achieve harmonious coexistence and win­-win cooperation and join hands to create a brighter future.

We will work with the people of other countries around the world to champion humanity's common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, to promote world peace and development, and to advance the development of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Just as China cannot develop in isolation from the world, the world needs China for its development. Through four decades of relentless effort in reform and opening up, we have created the two outstanding successes of rapid economic growth and enduring social stability. The Chinese economy has great resilience, potential and flex­ibility. Its strong fundamentals are conducive to long-term develop­ment and will remain unchanged. China will become more and more open. We will maintain steadfast commitment to deeper all-round reform, broader opening up, and high-quality development. A pros­perous China will create more opportunities for the world.

Ahead of us stretches a long and glorious journey towards our dreams. The roadmap has been drawn, and the call to march forward has sounded. We must forge ahead with enterprise and fortitude, and endeavor to create an even brighter future.

* Main part of the speech at a press conference by members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

(Not to be republished for any commercial or other purposes.)