Xi outlines targets for top leadership

Building political capacity to serve people stressed at annual performance review

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has called on members of the Party's top leadership to keep enhancing their capacity to promote high-quality development, serve the people and prevent and defuse risks.

In remarks made at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Monday and Tuesday, Xi said political capacity is the most important factor for senior officials from the 24-member body to conduct their duties.

Political Bureau members reflected on their performances and reviewed those of their colleagues, as part of the Party's traditional practice of criticism and self-criticism at the annual meeting, which is usually held at the end of the year.

This year's meeting centered on upholding the Party's overall leadership, following a people-centered development philosophy and exercising strict governance over the Party.

Xi urged the senior officials to exercise strict self-discipline, as required of Marxist statesmen, and to improve their capacity to analyze and judge general trends in domestic and global affairs.

They should always bear in mind major issues of the country, be adept at planning for major issues for the country and Party, deliver benefits to the people and win their support, Xi said.

The Political Bureau members said 2022 was a year of "extreme importance" in the history of the Party and State. The nation was able to respond to shocks from factors that went beyond expectations, secure positive economic growth, maintain a steady job market and stable commodity prices, and ensure food and energy security as well as people's living standards.

They stressed the need to carry forward the CPC's great founding spirit and work in a united way to ensure the nation has a good start on its journey to build a modern socialist country in all respects next year.