The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China opens in Beijing.
Xi Jinping delivered a report to the Congress on behalf of the 19th Central Committee.
Li Keqiang presided over the conference, which was attended by 2,340 delegates and specially invited representatives.

Xi Jinping delivered a report titled “Upholding the Great Banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Striving Together to Fully Build a Modern Socialist Country” on behalf of the 19th Central Committee to the Congress. Xi Jinping pointed out that the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China is an extremely important congress convened at a critical moment when the entire Party and all ethnic groups across the country are embarking on a new journey toward fully building a modern socialist country and marching toward the second centenary goal. The theme of the Congress is: Uphold the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, comprehensively implement the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, carry forward the great spirit of Party building, remain confident and self-reliant, uphold correct principles while fostering innovation, press ahead with vigor and determination, and strive together to fully build a modern socialist country and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

On October 16, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping delivered a report to the Congress on behalf of the 19th Central Committee. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Rao Aimin.

The Great Hall of the People stands majestic and solemn, while the Grand Auditorium for Ten Thousand People exudes an atmosphere of fervent enthusiasm. Above the rostrum hangs the emblem marking “The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.” In the center of the backdrop is the Party’s emblem—a sickle and hammer intertwined—flanked on either side by ten vibrant red flags. On the viewing platforms on the second and third floors hang banners reading: “Hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, carry forward the great spirit of the founding of the Party, and unite in striving to build a modern socialist country in all respects and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!” and “Long live the great, glorious, and correct Communist Party of China!”

在主席台前排就座的大会主席团常务委员会成员有习近平、李克强、栗战书、汪洋、王沪宁、赵乐际、韩正、丁薛祥、王晨、刘鹤、许其亮、孙春兰、李希、李强、李鸿忠、杨洁篪、杨晓渡、张又侠、陈希、陈全国、陈敏尔、胡春华、郭声琨、黄坤明、蔡奇、胡锦涛、李瑞环、温家宝、贾庆林、张德江、俞正声、宋平、李岚清、曾庆红、吴官正、李长春、贺国强、刘云山、张高丽、尤权、张庆黎。

On October 16, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Pictured here on the rostrum are Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, and Hu Jintao. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Xue Ren.

The conference was chaired by Li Keqiang. At 10 a.m., the meeting began. The entire audience rose to their feet and sang the National Anthem of the People’s Republic of China in unison. Afterwards, all comrades observed a moment of silence in memory of the late veteran proletarian revolutionaries and revolutionary martyrs—including Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi, Zhu De, Deng Xiaoping, and Chen Yun.

Li Keqiang announced that the 20th National Congress of the Party should have been attended by 2,296 official delegates and 83 specially invited delegates, totaling 2,379 people. Today, 2,340 people actually attended the congress. He extended a warm welcome to the non-Party friends and responsible officials from relevant sectors who were attending the congress as observers.

The report delivered by Xi Jinping on behalf of the 19th Central Committee to the Congress consists of 15 sections: First, the work carried out over the past five years and the great transformations of the past decade in the new era; Second, opening up a new realm for the sinicization and modernization of Marxism; Third, the mission and tasks of the Communist Party of China in the new era and on the new journey ahead; Fourth, accelerating the establishment of a new development paradigm and focusing on promoting high-quality development; Fifth, implementing the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education and strengthening talent support for modernization; Sixth, developing whole-process people’s democracy and ensuring that the people are masters of their own affairs; Seventh, upholding comprehensive governance according to law and advancing the building of a rule-of-law China; Eighth, promoting cultural self-confidence and self-strengthening, and forging new brilliance in socialist culture; Ninth, enhancing people’s well-being and improving the quality of life for the people; Tenth, promoting green development and fostering harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature; Eleventh, advancing the modernization of the national security system and capabilities and firmly safeguarding national security and social stability; Twelfth, achieving the centenary goal for the armed forces and opening up a new chapter in the modernization of national defense and the military; Thirteenth, upholding and improving the principle of “one country, two systems” and advancing the reunification of the motherland; Fourteenth, promoting world peace and development and advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind; Fifteenth, unswervingly enforcing full and strict governance over the Party and deeply advancing the new great project of Party building in the new era.

On October 16, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping delivered a report to the Congress on behalf of the 19th Central Committee. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yao Dawei.

In his report, Xi Jinping pointed out that over the past five years since the 19th National Congress, the Party Central Committee has coordinated the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with the unprecedented global changes occurring over the past century. It has made major strategic deployments for the development of the Party and the country, united and led the entire Party, the armed forces, and all ethnic groups across the country in effectively responding to the severe and complex international environment and the successive, enormous risks and challenges. With a spirit of striving vigorously and taking proactive action, we have continuously pushed forward socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era. Over the past five years, our Party has united and led the people in overcoming many long-standing, intractable problems and accomplishing numerous major undertakings of far-reaching significance, thereby achieving remarkable, globally acclaimed accomplishments in the cause of the Party and the country.

In summarizing the work of the past decade in the new era, Xi Jinping pointed out that over the past ten years, we have experienced three major events of profound practical significance and far-reaching historical importance for the cause of the Party and the people: First, we celebrated the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China; second, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era; and third, we have accomplished the historic task of eradicating poverty and building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, thus achieving the first centenary goal. This is a historic victory won through the united efforts of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people—a victory that will be recorded in the annals of the development of the Chinese nation and one that has far-reaching implications for the world.

Xi Jinping said that over the past decade, the Party and the country have achieved historic accomplishments and undergone historic transformations, propelling China onto a new journey of fully building a modern socialist country. We have established the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, strengthened Party leadership in an all-round way, realized the millennia-old Chinese dream of achieving a moderately prosperous society, and formulated scientific and comprehensive strategic plans for the development of the Party and the country in the new era. We have proposed and implemented a new development philosophy, demonstrated tremendous political courage in deepening reform comprehensively, adopted a more proactive and open strategy, steadfastly followed the path of political development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, established and upheld the fundamental system of Marxism’s guiding role in the ideological sphere, thoroughly implemented the development philosophy centered on the people, adhered to the principle that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, practiced the overall national security outlook, set forth the Party’s goal of strengthening the military in the new era, advanced the practice of “one country, two systems” in a comprehensive and accurate manner, promoted major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in an all-round way, and deepened the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party. At the same time, we must clearly recognize that there are still some shortcomings in our work and that we face numerous difficulties and challenges.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the great transformations of the past decade in the new era hold milestone significance in the history of the Party, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening-up, the history of socialist development, and the history of the Chinese nation’s development. Having traversed a century-long journey of struggle, the Communist Party of China has become stronger and more powerful through revolutionary forging, and it has consistently remained the strong leadership core in the historical process of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. The Chinese people now possess even greater momentum for progress, a more vigorous fighting spirit, and an even firmer belief in victory. Together, the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people are confidently advancing toward the great leap of the Chinese nation—from standing up and becoming prosperous to becoming strong.

Xi Jinping emphasized that continuously writing new chapters in the sinicization and modernization of Marxism is a solemn historical responsibility of contemporary Chinese Communists. To further advance theoretical innovation based on practice, we must first grasp well the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and firmly uphold and effectively apply the standpoints, viewpoints, and methods running through it. We must uphold the principle of putting the people first, maintain confidence and self-reliance, adhere to upholding the correct principles while promoting innovation, adopt a problem-oriented approach, embrace a systemic perspective, and keep an open mind toward the world.

On October 16, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping delivered a report to the Congress on behalf of the 19th Central Committee. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ju Peng.

Speaking about the mission and tasks of the Communist Party of China in the new era and on the new journey ahead, Xi Jinping pointed out that, from now on, the central task of the Communist Party of China is to unite and lead people of all ethnic groups across the country in fully building a modern socialist power and achieving the second centenary goal—thus comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernization. On the path forward, we must firmly uphold the following major principles: upholding and strengthening the Party’s overall leadership; adhering to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics; putting people at the center of development; deepening reform and opening up; and carrying forward the spirit of struggle.

Xi Jinping emphasized that we must fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy, uphold the reform direction of the socialist market economy, and adhere to a high-level opening-up policy. We should accelerate the establishment of a new development pattern featuring a major domestic economic loop as the mainstay, with domestic and international dual loops reinforcing each other. We need to build a high-level socialist market economic system, develop a modern industrial system, comprehensively promote rural revitalization, foster coordinated regional development, and advance high-level opening-up.

Xi Jinping pointed out that we must uphold the principle that science and technology are the primary productive force, talent is the primary resource, and innovation is the primary driving force. We should deeply implement the strategies of rejuvenating the country through education and science and technology, building a strong nation through talent, and driving development through innovation; open up new areas and new pathways for development; and continuously foster new drivers and new advantages for growth. We must adhere to prioritizing education, achieving self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and letting talent lead and drive development, thereby accelerating the building of a strong country in education, science and technology, and talent.

Xi Jinping said that we must unswervingly follow the path of political development of socialism with Chinese characteristics and uphold the organic unity of Party leadership, the people being masters of the country, and governance according to law. We should strengthen institutional safeguards for the people’s role as masters of the country, fully develop consultative democracy, actively promote grassroots democracy, and consolidate and expand the broadest patriotic united front.

Xi Jinping pointed out that we must better leverage the safeguarding role of the rule of law in consolidating the foundations, stabilizing expectations, and promoting long-term development, and comprehensively build a modern socialist country under the rule of law. We need to improve the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics, centered on the Constitution; steadily advance law-based administration; ensure strict and impartial justice; and accelerate the building of a society governed by the rule of law.

Xi Jinping stated that we must build a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and leadership, widely promote the core socialist values, raise the overall level of civilization in society, vigorously develop cultural undertakings and cultural industries, and enhance the appeal and influence of Chinese civilization.

Xi Jinping pointed out that we must effectively realize, safeguard, and develop the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people. We must closely focus on the issues that the people care about most directly and realistically, and adhere to doing our utmost within our capabilities. We should improve the distribution system, implement an employment-first strategy, strengthen the social security system, and advance the building of a Healthy China.

Xi Jinping emphasized that we must firmly establish and put into practice the philosophy that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and plan development from the perspective of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. We need to accelerate the green transformation of our development model, deepen efforts to prevent and control environmental pollution, enhance the diversity, stability, and sustainability of ecosystems, and actively and steadily advance carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.

Xi Jinping proposed firmly and unswervingly implementing the Overall National Security Concept and integrating the safeguarding of national security into every aspect and the entire process of the Party and state’s work. We must improve the national security system, enhance our capacity to safeguard national security, raise the level of public security governance, and refine the social governance system.

Xi Jinping stated that achieving the centenary goal of building a strong military on schedule and accelerating the transformation of the People's Armed Forces into a world-class military are strategic requirements for fully building a modern socialist country. We must comprehensively strengthen training and war preparedness, comprehensively enhance military governance, and consolidate and improve the integrated national strategic system and capabilities.

Xi Jinping emphasized that "One Country, Two Systems" is a great innovation of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the best institutional arrangement for maintaining Hong Kong and Macao’s long-term prosperity and stability after their return to the motherland. It must be upheld over the long term. We must uphold the rule of law in governing Hong Kong and Macao, fully implement the central government’s overall jurisdiction, and earnestly put into practice the principles of “patriots governing Hong Kong” and “patriots governing Macao.” We should support Hong Kong and Macao in better integrating themselves into the broader national development landscape and playing an even greater role in realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. We must remain committed to pursuing the prospect of peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and making every possible effort, while reserving the option of taking all necessary measures. The complete reunification of the motherland will surely be achieved—and it absolutely can be achieved!

Xi Jinping stated that today, changes in the world, in our times, and in history are unfolding in ways unprecedented before. China firmly pursues an independent and peaceful foreign policy, adheres to developing friendly cooperation with all countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and upholds the basic national policy of opening up to the outside world. The Chinese people stand ready to join hands with people around the world to create a brighter future for humanity!

Xi Jinping pointed out that the entire Party must bear in mind that comprehensively and strictly governing the Party is an ongoing endeavor, and the Party’s self-revolution is also an ongoing process. We must never afford ourselves any slackening, complacency, or weariness. Instead, we must persistently advance comprehensive and strict governance of the Party and deepen the great new project of Party building in the new era, using the Party’s self-revolution to lead the social revolution.

He emphasized the need to uphold and strengthen the Party Central Committee’s centralized and unified leadership, persistently use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to unite hearts and forge souls, improve the Party’s institutional framework for self-revolution, build a high-quality cadre team capable of shouldering the great mission of national rejuvenation, enhance the political and organizational functions of Party organizations, adhere to a strict tone in strengthening conduct and discipline, and resolutely win the tough and protracted battle against corruption.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the Party has created a century of great achievements through its great struggles, and it will certainly be able to create new great achievements through new great struggles.

Throughout Xi Jinping’s report, the entire audience repeatedly broke into enthusiastic applause.

On October 16, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping delivered a report to the Congress on behalf of the 19th Central Committee. Photo by Yue Yuewei, Xinhua News Agency.

Non-Party individuals who currently or formerly serve as Vice Chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Vice Chairpersons of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, vice chairpersons of the central committees of various democratic parties in Beijing, vice representatives from the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, non-Party representatives, and representatives from religious circles—as well as democratic party members, non-Party individuals, and representatives from ethnic and religious communities serving as standing committee members of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference—all attended the conference as guests. Relevant officials from within the Party also attended the conference.

Around 2,500 Chinese and foreign journalists covered the grand opening ceremony.