Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, speaks at a symposium for provincial and ministerial level officials held on Wednesday and Thursday in preparation for the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. MA ZHANCHENG / XINHUA

Symposium readies Party leaders for vital 19th National Congress this year

President Xi Jinping urged senior officials to enhance crisis consciousness and be ready for risks and challenges as the Communist Party of China is preparing for its 19th National Congress.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Wednesday at a symposium attended by provincial- and ministerial-level officials on Wednesday and Thursday. The meeting was attended by all seven members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

All Party members, especially Party leaders of all levels, should make an in-depth analysis and judgment of the current global and domestic situation, be prepared for risks, and take both achievements and challenges into consideration, Xi said, adding that the officials should anticipate the worst-case scenario, make full preparations and strive for best results.

The Party's 19th National Congress, to be held later this year, will be an important congress held during a key period, Xi said, adding that the people's fundamental interests are related to the congress.

Xi told senior officials to uphold the flag of socialism with Chinese characteristics; be confident in the Party's path, theories, system and culture; and ensure the Party and government's mission to develop in the correct direction.

The CPC should bring forward new methods, strategies and measures to meet the people's demand for happy lives, he said.

Since its 18th National Congress held in November 2012, the CPC has answered the call of the people, put forward a series of important policies, resolved lots of long-existing problems and produced a large number of achievements, Xi said.

In the past five years, the Party has strengthened its leadership comprehensively, implemented new thoughts of development, comprehensively deepened reform, implemented the rule of law, enhanced ideological works, built a more beautiful country, modernized national defense and the army, practiced diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, and fought corruption in a strict manner, he added.

Xi pointed out that after four decades of reform and opening-up, the country's social development has been improved outstandingly, and the people's desire for happy lives is stronger than ever.

The people are expecting better education, more stable jobs, higher incomes, better health insurance, a more beautiful environment, and more comfortable living conditions, he added.

He urged the whole Party to have an overall view of the Party and the country's situation, adhere to the Party's basic path, make continuous efforts to push forward economic development, and achieve comprehensive development of all areas.

The Party and country have experienced historic changes since the Party's 18th National Congress, and China's development has entered a new starting point, Xi said.

The success of socialism with Chinese characteristics means that the Chinese nation has completed its historic leap from obtaining independence to becoming rich and finally becoming powerful, he said, adding that China has explored a path for developing countries' modernization and offered China's solution in resolving the problems of mankind.

The CPC attaches great importance to building up its theories, and the Party's theories should be innovated on the basis of practice, Xi said.

It is the Party's solemn promise to lead the country to accomplish the goal of comprehensively building a moderately well-off society in 2020, Xi said, adding that the CPC must win the battles of preventing and resolving major risks, reducing poverty, preventing pollution, and pushing forward supply-side reform.

The Party must unswervingly stick to and improve its leadership in the process of uniting and leading the people to fulfill their great dreams, Xi said, while calling for more efforts to build up a powerful Party that could lead the people to deal with major challenges and risks.

The people have spoken highly of the CPC's achievements of comprehensively promoting stricter governance of the Party, Xi said, adding that the whole Party should make continuous efforts for stricter self-governance.

Premier Li Keqiang said at the opening ceremony of the symposium that Xi's speech is of great importance, and has put forward a series of new thoughts, views, judgments and measures. All relevant decisions and policies should be implemented well for the success of the Party's 19th National Congress, he said.

Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said at the symposium's ending ceremony that through the symposium, Party officials have gotten a better understanding of the significance of Xi's speech. He urged the Party leaders to unify their actions in accord with the speech and carry forward relevant reforms, development and stability works.