Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday stressed ethnic unity and efforts to forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation when he joined a deliberation during the annual session of the National People’s Congress, the top legislature, reported Xinhua.
Joining discussions with fellow lawmakers from north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, hailed ethnic unity as the “lifeline” of Chinese people of all ethnic groups. He called for efforts to help all ethnic groups stay closely united “like the seeds of a pomegranate that stick together” in jointly building the great motherland.
Efforts should be made to maintain a steady and healthy economic environment, a prosperous and secure social environment, and a clean and healthy political environment, Xi said, calling for concrete actions to pave the way for the 20th CPC National Congress. Xi said China comprehensively advanced reforms, promoted development and maintained stability in 2021, achieving new and major achievements in the cause of the Party and the country. China was one of the world’s best performers in terms of economic development and COVID-19 prevention and control, and got the 14th Five-Year Plan off to a good start.
The country also presented to the world a streamlined, safe, and splendid Winter Olympics, in which China obtained its best-ever results in any Winter Olympics.
“These achievements bear great significance for the development of the cause of the Party and the country,” Xi said.
Xi said after a review of the endeavors of the Party and the people in the new era, five convictions have been reinforced. He first stressed upholding the Party’s overall leadership, which forms the people’s most trustworthy backbone when braving winds and storms.
Secondly, socialism with Chinese characteristics is the only path toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Xi said. “As long as we unswervingly follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we will constantly fulfill the Chinese people’s aspirations for a better life and promote common prosperity for all.”
He then emphasized the concerted efforts of the Chinese people, saying as long as people of all ethnic groups stay united under the leadership of the Party, all hardships and challenges on the road ahead will be overcome.
Xi also underlined the imperativeness of acting on the new development philosophy for the country to grow strong and prosperous.
Fifthly, full and rigorous governance must be exercised over the Party to root out any elements that would harm the Party’s advanced nature and purity, he added.
China sets 2022 GDP target at around 5.5 pct, giving a shot in arm to world recovery
In the meantime China has set its economic growth target at around 5.5 percent in 2022 as the country’s national lawmakers and political advisors gathered in Beijing to map out development priorities for this year.
The gross domestic product (GDP) target is one of the key goals laid out in a much-anticipated government work report delivered by Premier Li Keqiang to the national legislature, which began its annual session on Saturday. “It represents a medium-high rate of growth given our large economic aggregate, and demonstrates our ability to move proactively,” Li said.
The Chinese economy saw a strong rebound with 8.1-percent growth in 2021 and became the only major economy to record growth in 2020.
At a time when the world economy is still facing mounting pressure due to the pandemic and other uncertainties including geopolitical tensions, a growth target of around 5.5 percent for the world’s second-largest economy is expected to significantly boost the global economic recovery, analysts said. /Argumentum.al
