On the morning of December 29, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held a New Year's tea forum in the Auditorium of the CPPCC National Committee. Leaders of the CPC and the country, including Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Zhang Gaoli, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, and Han Zheng, together with the central committees of  all other political parties, heads of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, delegates of individuals without party affiliation, heads of central and state organs, as well as representatives of people from all walks of life in the capital, gathered together to celebrate the 2018 New Year's Day. Lu Zhiqiang, Standing Committee Member of the CPPCC National Committee and Chairman of Oceanwide Holdings, was invited to the New Year's tea forum.

Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, made an important speech at the tea forum. He emphasized that we have embarked on the journey of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, where the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is moving forward. Every force is indispensable on this great journey. Time waits for no one! We must walk ahead of time and ride the times. We are convinced that we will certainly realize the national rejuvenation with the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the driving force of reform and development, and the joint efforts of people of all ethnic groups.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission, Xi Jinping extended greetings and sincere blessings to all other political parties, industrial and commercial associations, individuals without party affiliation, and people's organizations, to all the workers, peasants, intellectuals, cadres, and people from all walks of life, to the PLA's commanders and officers, armed policemen, and public security officers, to the compatriots of the Hong Kong SAR, the Macao SAR and Taiwan as well as overseas Chinese nationals, and to our friends from all over the world who have shown understanding and support for China's modernization!

Xi Jinping pointed out that 2017 is a landmark year for the development of the Party and the country. New achievements have been made in all fields of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We have upheld the underlying principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, remained committed to the new development philosophy, ensured coordinated implementation of the five-sphere integrated plan and the four-pronged comprehensive strategy, advanced the supply-side structural reform, intensified poverty alleviation, and made new progress in economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological advancement, as well as military and national defense building. We reviewed troops in Zhurihe to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. We celebrated the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, clearly declaring that the principle of "one country, two systems" remains unchanged, is unwaveringly upheld, and in practice is not bent or distorted. We have adhered to the one-China principle and peaceful reunification, promoted cross-Strait exchanges, and resolutely opposed "Taiwan independence." We have carried out all-round diplomacy and actively promoted the development of a community with a shared future for mankind. The Communist Party of China has always insisted on exercising full and rigorous governance over the Party, given top priority to the political work of the Party, and combined efforts on ideological and disciplinary work, and institution building. The anti-corruption campaign has built into a crushing tide, and is being consolidated and developed.

Xi Jinping emphasized that we have continued to deepening reform in every field and completed 79 key reform tasks. The relevant departments of the central and state organs have completed 211 reform tasks. A total of 399 reform programs have been introduced in all aspects. We have taken moves across the board, achieved breakthroughs in many areas, and made further progress in reform.

Xi Jinping pointed out that in 2018, we must fully implement the gist of the 19th National Congress of the CPC. Guided by the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we should remain committed to the underlying principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, coordinate various tasks of stabilizing growth, promoting reform, adjusting the structure, benefiting the people's livelihood, and preventing all risks, and bolster sustainable and sound development of economy and society. We must celebrate the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening up with the practical actions of reform and continue to march forward along the prosperous path of reform and opening up. We must continue to implement the principles of "one country, two systems," "the people of Hong Kong governing Hong Kong," "the people of Macao governing Macao," and a high degree of autonomy, and safeguard the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao. We must continue to adhere to the one-China principle, promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations on the basis of the "1992 Consensus," and oppose all separatist activities. We should stay on the path of peaceful development, promote the building of an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity, and allow peoples of the world to share the fruits of human civilization and progress.

Xi Jinping stressed that in 2017, the CPPCC adhered to the two major themes of solidarity and democracy, focused on the tasks of the Party and the country, and worked hard to improve the pattern of consultation and deliberation, strengthen the democratic oversight function, expand solidarity and friendship work, enhance capacity building for duty performance, and further develop a new situation of unity, democracy, pragmatic progress and vigorous development, thereby making important contributions to the development of the Party and the country. In the new year, we must uphold and improve the system of Party-led multiparty cooperation and political consultation, and consolidate and develop the broadest possible patriotic united front. The CPPCC should give full play to its role as a major channel for socialist consultative democracy, as well as the role of its committees as specialist consultative bodies, and promote the solidarity and unity of all political parties, groups and people from all walks of life, in order to work together to achieve the goals and tasks set by the 19th National Congress of the CPC.

The tea forum was chaired by Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee. He pointed out that General Secretary Xi Jinping in his speech recalled the new achievements made by the CPC Central Committee in 2017 in uniting and leading the people of all ethnic groups in the country to adhere to and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, and put forward important requirements for doing a good job for the Party and the country next year. In his speech, General Secretary Xi Jinping fully affirmed the work of the CPPCC in 2017, and put forward new hopes and requirements for consolidating and developing the broadest possible patriotic united front as well as doing a good job in the work of the CPPCC. We must conscientiously study and appraise the gist of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech, adhere to unity and democracy, and persist in focusing on key tasks and serving the overall goal. We must regard Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as an overall guideline for the work of the CPPCC, stick to and develop socialism with Chinese characteristic as the main axis for consolidating a common ideological and political foundation, and make contribution to securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and striving for the great success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era as the main line of work. We must conscientiously perform the functions of political consultation, democratic oversight, and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs. With hard work and down-to-earth work style, we must devote ourselves to the implementation of the decisions and plans proposed by the 19th National Congress of the CPC.

Chen Zhu, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, spoke on behalf of the central committees of all other political parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and individuals without party affiliation, stating that we will be more closely united around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core and guided by the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. We will stay true to our cooperation mission, continue to work together, strengthen our self-building, and devote ourselves to integrating with, serving and guaranteeing the big picture, in order to contribute our wisdom and strength to securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

At the tea forum, Xi Jinping came to the middle of the people from all walks of life and shook hands with everyone, greeting each other and wishing a happy new year. A few members of the CPPCC National Committee and literary and art professionals performed wonderful programs. In the end, the audience sang Ode to the Motherland. The venue was full of festive and warm atmosphere.

The participants also included the members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, secretaries of the Central Secretariat, and leading comrades of the Party and the country in Beijing, as well as former vice chairmen of the CPPCC National Committee in Beijing.