China's President Xi calls for hard work as party congress opens

Chinas President Xi Jinping (C) sings the National Anthem with former presidents Jiang Zemin (right) and Hu Jintao (left) during the opening of the 19th Communist Party Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October. AFP photo

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the Communist Party of China (CPC) will continue its people-centered approach to governance, as it works to build a modern and prosperous socialist country.

As he opened the 19th national congress of China's ruling party on Monday in Beijing, Xi, who is also the general secretary of the Communist Party of china said the country's "prospects are bright but challenges are severe".

The congress, a once in every five-years event has convened at the Great Hall of the People to map a blueprint for the party and country for the next five years. 2,280 delegates are attending the week-long event.

It also marked the official end of President Xi first term in office and the start of his second. He became the CPC head at the party's 18th national congress five years ago.

In his address, Xi said China was at an historic juncture in its development journey.

"Socialism with Chinese characteristics has preserved China's independence and made sure that its people are sovereign", Xi said to applause from the delegates.

He hailed the first five years of his administration as "truly remarkable". In his work report titled Secure a Decisive Victory in Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in all Respects and strive for the Great Success of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Xi said that work to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation would take two stages.

He explained that the first stage to build a moderately prosperous society would start from 2020 and last until 2035. The second stage, Xi remarked, would start from 2035 to 2050, which, he said, would result in a "great Chinese nation".

Xi warned that achieving the Chinese dream "would be no walk in the park". He said the party needed to work hard and to adopt a new vision for development anchored in people-centered policies.

He urged trust and confidence in the party's systems, culture and leaders.

The world's second largest economy is grappling with slow growth, industrial over capacity and numerous environmental challenges.

Xi said more efforts should be made to deepen reforms, build a modern socialist economy and to deepen devolution to allow local governments more decision-making powers.

The Communist Party of China took power in 1949 and declared the Peoples Republic of China.

It has overseen rapid economic transformation of China, lifting over 700m people out of poverty over the last 40 years. The country's goal is to end poverty by 2020.

About 40m people in china are classified as poor. The country's population is nearly 1.4bn.

Xi warned that corruption remained the biggest threat to the party's survival. "The anti-corruption campaign will only gain momentum", he said.

The 64-year-old has made the fight against corruption one of the central themes of his presidency. He said the party would improve "self-checks and promote public oversight".

He said that China would remain a force for world peace and development, globalisation and free trade. China would also strengthen cultural exchanges with other countries, he added.

Xi urged more transformation of China's military. "The PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) has to complete modernization into a world class force by 2035", he said.

China's army, the largest in the world, is undergoing reforms to make it leaner and more efficient.  

"Economic development should go hand in hand with military building and national defense", Xi said.