The reform and opening up of Chinese economy is a great revolution in the history of China and its people, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday.
"It's the great revolution that propelled a quantum leap forward in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics," he told a grand gathering.
The government arranged the event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the country's reform and opening up at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Forty years ago in December 1978, China started to implement a series of policies that kicked off domestic reforms and opening up to the outside world.
President Xi and other Chinese leaders attended the event with Premier Li Keqiang in the chair.
Mr Xi said the reform is a great reawakening of the Communist Party of China, nurturing great creativity in both theory and practice for it.
He called the pursuit of reform and opening up and socialism with Chinese characteristics a milestone in realising the nation's rejuvenation.
The founding of the party and that of the country were also the milestones on the way toward the great national rejuvenation in modern times, Mr Xi said.
China has lifted 740 million people out of poverty in 40 years, reducing the poverty headcount ratio by 94.4 percentage points, he added.
It has built the world's largest social security system, with the basic old-age pension covering more than 900 million people and medical insurance covering over 1.3 billion people.
Mr Xi said the ratio of permanent urban residents in total population rose 40.6 percentage points to 58.52 percent during the period.
"The country has maintained its social stability over a long period, making it one of the countries that provide the greatest sense of safety in the world."
China has bid farewell to the problems that plagued its people for thousands of years, including hunger, shortage and poverty, Mr Xi said.
Its development over the years has effectively served the cause of world peace and development, he stated.
The development has offered a bright prospect for other developing countries striving for modernisation, representing a great contribution of China to the progress of human civilisation.
The reform in the past four decades has shown that the party's leadership is the most essential attribute of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the greatest strength of this system.
Mr Xi said, "It's by upholding the centralised, unified leadership of the party that we've been able to achieve the historic transformation…"
He called for ensuring leadership by the party, a fundamental principle that bears on the future of the party and the country.
All party members and all the people must maintain a high degree of self-consciousness in terms of thinking, political orientation and actions, the president said.
No success of reform and opening up comes easily. In the years to come, risks and challenges of all sorts are inevitable, he mentioned.
"The Party must guide overall situation and coordinate work of all sides, remain committed to practicing scientific, democratic, and law-based governance…"
It must see that China's ship of reform and opening up will break waves and sail on the right course, he said.
Mr Xi said the people-oriented approach must be adhered to and efforts should be made to keep delivering on the people's aspirations for a better life.
The practices over the past 40 years show that seeking happiness for people and striving for rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the party's founding aspiration and mission.
"In considering and introducing a policy, we must first and foremost ensure the backing, approval and endorsement of the people," he said.
The wishes the people express, the best practice they create, the rights they are entitled to and the role they play must be respected, Mr Xi added.
He demanded efforts to fully stimulate and unlock the people's creativity.
What has been achieved in economic, political, cultural, social and ecological fields must be shared among all the people, the president said.
He stressed that the people have a stronger sense of fulfillment and greater happiness, and feel safer and more secure in a more direct and tangible manner.
He underlined China's commitment to opening up wider to the world and promoting joint efforts to build a community with a shared future for humanity.
Citing that openness brings progress while seclusion leads to backwardness, Mr Xi said: "China cannot develop itself in isolation from the world, and the world needs China for global prosperity."
[email protected]
