BEIJING, Feb. 7 -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Wednesday extended festive greetings to people from non-CPC political parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), personages without party affiliation, and other members of the united front ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, sent the greetings when he took part in an annual gathering with non-CPC members at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The reception was also attended by Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Cai Qi, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Ding Xuexiang, vice premier of the State Council. They are all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

The year 2023 was an extraordinary year, Xi said. He noted that throughout the year, the CPC Central Committee led the whole Party and the Chinese people to fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and act on the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability.

We stood up to external pressure and overcame domestic difficulties, made all-out efforts to boost economic recovery and development, and had successfully achieved the main projected targets of economic and social development, said Xi.

We got off to a good start, and there are many highlights in our endeavor, Xi said, pointing out that new breakthroughs have been achieved in the field of sci-tech innovation.

In the meantime, we effectively took countermeasures against a series of natural disasters, Xi added.

These achievements resulted from not only the strong leadership of the CPC, but also the tenacious endeavor and joint efforts of people from all sectors of society, including non-CPC political parties, the ACFIC, and personages without party affiliation, said Xi.

Xi noted that non-CPC political parties and personages without party affiliation have continued to strengthen ideological and political consensus for multiparty cooperation over the past year.

He said that they have voiced their views and given advice on key and thorny problems in the process of promoting Chinese modernization, and made new progress in serving economic and social development.

Xi then expressed gratitude on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

Noting that the year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xi said that it is a crucial year for the fulfillment of the goals and tasks set out in the country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025).

Non-CPC political parties, the ACFIC and personages without party affiliation should work to fully grasp the major decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee, and contribute their wisdom and strength to advancing Chinese modernization, Xi said.

He called on them to strengthen confidence in China's path and faithfully uphold, develop and improve the country's new type of political party system.

He also urged them to build broad consensus, add to the momentum of Chinese modernization, and further strengthen political guidance and self-improvement.