Xi extends New Year greetings to non-Communist parties, people without party affiliation

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday attended a gathering in Beijing and extended Lunar New Year greetings to leaders from non-Communist parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), and personages without party affiliation.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called on non-Communist parties and personages to enhance their political identification with the CPC and socialism with Chinese characteristics.

As socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, multi-party cooperation should take on a new look, Xi said, urging non-Communist parties and personages to improve their ideological consensus with the CPC and make new achievements in performing their duties.

Senior officials Yu Zhengsheng, Wang Yang, Wang Huning and Han Zheng attended the gathering.

Leaders from non-Communist parties and the ACFIC introduced their work and future work plans at the gathering.

Stating that 2017 was of landmark significance for the development of the Party and the country, Xi stressed the significant achievements made by non-Communist parties and personages in upholding the authority of and the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee.

He also spoke of more than 150 proposals raised by non-Communist parties and personages, ranging from promoting the Belt and Road Initiative to bolstering the real economy.

As 2018 marks the first year to implement the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress, Xi said this year is also crucial to secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and implement the country's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020).

China will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening up through deepening reform in a comprehensive manner, Xi said.

He said that studying and implementing the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress is the primary political task for the whole CPC and all people, including those from non-Communist parties, the ACFIC, and those without party affiliation.

Xi stressed that non-Communist parties should focus on the strategic plans of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era and offer insights and suggestions for the CPC Central Committee based on extensive research.

Supervision from non-Communist parties over the poverty alleviation campaign is also encouraged, he said.

Xi called on the non-Communist parties to enhance their work on theory, organizations and institutions to strengthen their ability in participating in the administration of state affairs.