On the afternoon of January 20, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China and Chairperson of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping gathered with leaders of the central committees of various democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and representatives of non-party personages in the Great Hall of the People to celebrate the approaching Spring Festival of the Year of the Snake in the traditional Chinese ethnic calendar. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping extended sincere greetings and New Year wishes to various democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and non-party personages, as well as to the vast number of members of the united front.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, attended the event.

Zheng Jianbang, Chairperson of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang; Ding Zhongli, Chairperson of the Central Committee of the China Democratic League; Hao Mingjin, Chairperson of the Central Committee of the China Democratic National Construction Association; Cai Dafeng, Chairperson of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy; He Wei, Chairperson of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party; Jiang Zuojun, Chairperson of the Central Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party; Wu Weihua, Chairperson of the Central Committee of the Jiu San Society; Su Hui, Chairperson of the Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League; Gao Yunlong, Chairperson of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce; and representatives of non-party personages Xie Xiaoliang and Xu Weigang were invited to attend. Also in attendance were Vice Chairmen of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Edmund Ho and Leung Chun-ying, as well as former chairmen, first vice chairmen and executive vice chairmen of the central committees of various democratic parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce who have stepped down from their leading positions.

Cai Dafeng delivered a speech on behalf of the central committees of various democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and non-party personages. He said that in 2024, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core united and led the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups in the country to hold high the banner and forge ahead with determination. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was successfully convened, making major decisions to further comprehensively deepen reform and advance Chinese path to modernization. The Party calmly responded to challenges and achieved hard-won new achievements in reform and development. In the new year, various democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and non-party personages should consciously maintain a high degree of consistency with the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, focus on the central work of the Party and the country, pool their wisdom and strength, offer advice and suggestions, and jointly write a new chapter in the cause of building a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation.

After listening to Cai Dafeng's speech, Xi Jinping delivered an important speech. He emphasized that 2024 was a year for us to overcome difficulties and forge ahead. Over the past year, the CPC Central Committee has united and led the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups in the country to respond calmly and take comprehensive measures, successfully completing the main target tasks of economic and social development and taking a new solid step forward in Chinese path to modernization. We have guided all levels and all parties to correctly grasp the favorable and unfavorable factors, maintained strategic focus and strengthened our confidence in victory. We have effectively implemented various existing policies, stepped up the introduction of a package of incremental policies, and made solid efforts to promote high-quality development. The economy of our country has warmed up and shown a good trend, with the gross domestic product growing by 5%. We have strengthened independent innovation, achieved a series of new breakthroughs in the frontiers of science and technology, and effectively promoted the development of new productive forces. We have further comprehensively deepened reform, paid attention to the coordinated progress of various undertakings, ensured people's livelihood in a solid manner, and the people have gained a stronger sense of fulfillment. We have coordinated development and security, and maintained social stability. We have made in-depth efforts in promoting major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, injecting more positive energy into maintaining world peace and stability and promoting human development and progress. We have carried out solid education in Party discipline, unswervingly taken action against undesirable work styles and corruption, and continuously improved the Party and government conduct. The achievements are the result of the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China and also the result of the united struggle and tenacious efforts of the people of all ethnic groups in the country, including various democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and non-party personages.

Xi Jinping pointed out that 2024 was also a year of upholding the truth, making innovations and booming development for the cause of multi-party cooperation. Various democratic parties and non-party personages have fully implemented the decision-making arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, focused on promoting Chinese path to modernization, actively offered suggestions and advice, and strengthened democratic supervision, playing an active role in the scientific decision-making and effective policy implementation of the CPC Central Committee. The All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce has promoted the implementation of support policies to promote the growth and expansion of the private economy, and has done a great deal of work to promote the healthy development of the non-public economy and the healthy growth of non-public economy personages. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all of them.

Xi Jinping emphasized that 2025 is the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan. It is necessary to adhere to the general principle of making steady progress while seeking progress, implement more proactive and promising macro policies, concentrate on high-quality development, promote high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and strength, maintain a good momentum of economic and social development, successfully complete the target tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan, and lay a solid foundation for a good start to the 15th Five-Year Plan. Various democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and non-party personages should focus on the central task and serve the overall situation, give play to their respective advantages, and more extensively pool people's hearts, build consensus, gather wisdom and pool strength.

Xi Jinping put forward three hopes to various democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and non-party personages. First, raise political awareness and further draw a concentric circle. Firmly grasp the fundamental feature of the new type of political party system in China under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, deeply study the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, do more work to strengthen confidence, win people's support, warm people's hearts and build unity, and effectively transform all positive factors into development achievements. Second, closely focus on the central work and actively offer advice and contribute to the efforts. Conduct in-depth research and discussions on further comprehensively deepening reform, promoting high-quality development, formulating suggestions for the 15th Five-Year Plan, etc., and continue to focus on the key and difficult issues of ecological environment protection in the Yangtze River Basin to carry out democratic supervision. The All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce should guide private economy personages to maintain their entrepreneurial enthusiasm, boost their confidence in development, and guide private enterprises to establish and improve the modern enterprise system with Chinese characteristics and strive to achieve high-quality development. Third, strengthen self-construction and improve the ability to perform duties. Highlight political guidance, guide and inspire the vast number of members to remember their original aspirations and missions, carry forward the fine traditions and draw on the strength to forge ahead. Consolidate and deepen the achievements of discipline education, continuously implement the spirit of the eight-point decision of the CPC Central Committee on improving Party and government conduct, promote the transformation of work styles, and consolidate and develop a good political ecology.

Shi Taifeng, relevant responsible persons of the central committees of various democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and responsible comrades of relevant central departments participated in the event.（Outlook New Era）