National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Holds New Year Tea Party; Xi Jinping Delivers Important Speech

On the morning of December 31, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference held a New Year tea party at the CPPCC Auditorium. Leaders of the Party and the state—Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, and Han Zheng—joined leaders of the central committees of the democratic parties, heads of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, representatives of non-affiliates, heads of relevant departments of central and state organs, and representatives from all ethnic groups and sectors of the capital in a warm gathering to jointly welcome the arrival of the New Year 2026.

Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People’s Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech. He emphasized that the blueprint has been drawn up and that now is the right time to forge ahead. All Party members and all Chinese people of every ethnic group must unite more closely, pool their strength and strive with vigor, achieve great undertakings through hard work, secure the future through innovation, and continuously open up new prospects in the cause of Chinese modernization.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission, Xi Jinping extends warm New Year greetings to the democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and non-affiliates; to the people of all ethnic groups across the country; to our compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, as well as to overseas Chinese; and to friends from all countries who care about and support China’s modernization drive.

Xi Jinping pointed out that 2025 has been an extraordinary year. Rising to challenges and striving with all our might, we successfully achieved the major goals for economic and social development and accomplished a number of important and pivotal undertakings. Despite headwinds, China’s economy has pressed forward, moving toward new growth drivers and higher quality, demonstrating remarkable resilience and vitality; reform and opening-up have taken new steps; efforts to safeguard people’s wellbeing have been strengthened; and overall social stability has been maintained. After five years of arduous struggle, the 14th Five-Year Plan has come to a successful close, lifting China’s economic strength, scientific and technological prowess, national defense capabilities, and overall national strength to a new level. Through relentless endeavor, we have further bolstered our ambition, moral fortitude, and confidence, and grown even more resolute in our determination and confidence to build a modern socialist country and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Xi Jinping emphasized that over the past year, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference has earnestly implemented the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, worked to consolidate the common ideological and political foundation for unity and struggle, and focused on offering policy advice and making proposals on such key issues as further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting high-quality development, thereby making new contributions to the cause of the Party and the country.

Xi Jinping pointed out that 2026 will mark the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. We must fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy, accelerate the establishment of a new development pattern, focus on promoting high-quality development, adhere to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, implement more proactive and effective macro policies, drive both qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth in the economy, uphold social harmony and stability, and strive to achieve a strong start to the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

Xi Jinping emphasized that the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference must closely focus on the central tasks of the Party and the country, concentrating on in-depth consultation and deliberation, proactive proposal-making and policy advice, and democratic oversight in the formulation and implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan, so as to broadly rally public support, build consensus, pool wisdom, and mobilize strength for advancing Chinese modernization.

The tea party was chaired by Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. He emphasized the need to earnestly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech, unswervingly uphold the CPC’s overall leadership, firmly grasp the nature and positioning of the CPPCC, focus on the central tasks of the Party and the state in performing duties and fulfilling responsibilities, fully leverage the CPPCC’s role as a specialized consultative body, pool wisdom and strength with one heart and one mind, and mobilize broad consensus and concerted efforts to ensure a strong start to the 15th Five-Year Plan period, thus making unremitting efforts toward the basic realization of socialist modernization.

Cai Dafeng, Chairman of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, delivered a speech on behalf of the central committees of the other democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and non-affiliates, stating that they will rally even more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, continuously strengthen their own development, better serve the overall national development agenda, and contribute their wisdom and strength to comprehensively advancing the great cause of building a modern socialist country and achieving national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization.

Cultural and artistic performers presented a series of splendid live performances. To conclude, the entire audience rose to their feet and sang “Unity Is Strength” in unison. The venue was filled with a joyous and harmonious festive atmosphere.

Members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and members of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee based in Beijing, leading officials of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and the State Council, leading officials of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and veteran comrades who formerly served as Vice Chairpersons of the National Committee of the CPPCC also attended the tea party.