On the evening of September 30, the State Council held a National Day reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, warmly celebrating the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council delivered an address. Photo by Shen Hong, Xinhua News Agency
Distinguished guests, friends, and comrades:
Today we gather joyfully to celebrate together the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and to wish our great motherland a brighter future. Here, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, I extend festive congratulations to the people of all ethnic groups across the country! I extend cordial greetings to our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao, our compatriots in Taiwan, and overseas Chinese! And I express heartfelt thanks to the international friends who care about and support the cause of China's modernization!
Guests, friends, and comrades!
This year we solemnly celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the people of all ethnic groups across the country have united and worked hard, and the achievements of New China over the past 72 years have attracted worldwide attention. In particular, we have, as scheduled, attained the First Centenary Goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and have embarked on a new journey toward building a modern socialist country in all respects. This year is the opening year of the 14th Five-Year Plan. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the whole country has coordinated epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development, effectively responded to the complex and severe international environment and multiple challenges such as the epidemic and floods, continuously deepened reform and opening up to enhance the momentum of development, effectively implemented macro policies to assist enterprises and relieve their difficulties, and actively promoted entrepreneurship and innovation to strengthen new drivers of growth. China's economy has continued to recover and develop, demonstrating strong resilience and great potential; our athletes have achieved excellent results at the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games and the National Games; people's lives have continuously improved; and undertakings in all fields have made new progress and shown new vitality.
Guests, friends, and comrades!
There are still many difficulties and challenges on our road ahead, and the march toward achieving the Second Centenary Goal is an arduous and long-term task; development is the foundation and key to solving all of China's problems. We must adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and, in accordance with the requirements of basing ourselves on the new development stage, applying the new development philosophy, fostering a new development pattern, and promoting high-quality development, do a good job in regular epidemic prevention and control, strengthen cross-cyclical adjustment, continue to implement macro policies centered on the needs of market entities, stabilize reasonable expectations, do a good job in key tasks such as scientific and technological innovation, expanding domestic demand, and rural revitalization, enhance the stability and coordination of development, raise the capacity for green and safe development, keep economic performance within a reasonable range, and promote the long-term sound development of China's economy.
Reform and opening up is China's basic state policy and also the fundamental driving force for promoting China's development in the future. We must comprehensively deepen reform and achieve new and greater progress in reform in important areas and key links. We must adhere to the direction of reform toward a socialist market economy, uphold the “two unswervinglys,” fully mobilize the enthusiasm of all parties, build a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment, cultivate and strengthen market entities, treat all types of market entities equally, safeguard fair competition, protect property rights and intellectual property rights, and more greatly stimulate market vitality and social creativity. We will advance high-level, institutional opening up, expand international cooperation, deepen mutual learning through exchanges, and broaden the space for mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.
What the people aspire to is the direction of governance. We must do everything within our power and act according to our capacity, and do well the things the people look forward to with more considerate and practical measures. Employment is the greatest livelihood concern; we must take multiple measures to increase job positions and broaden market-based employment channels. We must consolidate and expand the achievements of poverty alleviation and continue to advance the development of areas lifted out of poverty. Elderly care, medical care, and housing concern hundreds of millions of families; we must make progress year by year in safeguarding these basic livelihood needs. We must strive to reduce the burdens of childbirth, child-rearing, and education. We must promote equality of opportunity, encourage entrepreneurship, innovation and creation, promote income growth for urban and rural residents through hard work, and continuously enhance the well-being of the people through ongoing development.
Guests, friends, and comrades!
We will continue to fully and faithfully implement the principles of “one country, two systems,” “Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong,” “Macao people governing Macao,” and a high degree of autonomy; safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests; promote the common development and progress of Hong Kong and Macao together with the mainland of the motherland; promote the continuous improvement of people's livelihood; and maintain long-term prosperity and stability.
We will adhere to implementing the major principles and policies on work related to Taiwan, uphold the one-China principle and the “1992 Consensus,” take the well-being of compatriots on both sides of the Strait as our touchstone, advance the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and the reunification of the motherland, resolutely oppose and contain any separatist acts of “Taiwan independence” and interference by external forces, and jointly create a bright future of national rejuvenation.
As the largest developing country, China will base itself on doing its own affairs well, unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, promote the building of a new type of international relations, work to improve global governance, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. In keeping with the principles of mutual respect and treating one another as equals, we will enhance exchanges and cooperation with all countries in the world, jointly meet global challenges, and together promote the recovery and growth of the world economy.
Guests, friends, and comrades!
Great undertakings are forged through hard work, and the future is created through striving. Let us unite even more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, take on our responsibilities and act, forge ahead with determination, and strive tirelessly to build our country into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful, and to realize the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!
Now, I propose a toast:
To celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China,
To the prosperity and strength of our great motherland and the happiness and well-being of the people of all ethnic groups,
To the friendship and cooperation between the Chinese people and the peoples of all countries in the world,
To the good health and family happiness of all present,
Cheers!
Source: Pacific Rim Institute for Development and Education (P.R.I.D.E.)