A new era in China begins

We are greatly encouraged by both the trust all the comrades of the Party have placed in us and the great expectation the people of all ethnic groups in China have of us, and we are keenly aware that this is also an important responsibility for us,” Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China said, according to China Daily.

“Our responsibility now is to rally and lead the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups in China in taking over the relay baton passed on to us by history, and in making continued efforts to achieve the great renewal of the Chinese nation, make the Chinese nation stand rock-firm in the family of nations, and make even greater contribution to mankind,” he said.

 “Our people have an ardent love for life. They wish to have better education, more stable jobs, more income, greater social security, better medical and health care, improved housing conditions, and a better environment,” Xi said.

 “They want their children to have sound growth, have good jobs and lead a more enjoyable life. To meet their desire for a happy life is our mission. It is only hard work that creates all happiness in the world,” he said.

 “Under the new conditions, our Party faces many severe challenges, and there are also many pressing problems within the Party that need to be resolved, particularly corruption, being divorced from the people, going through formalities and bureaucratism caused by some Party officials,” Xi said.

The first plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee also elected 25 members of the Political Bureau.

 Xi was also named chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission. Fan Changlong and Xu Qiliang were named vice-chairmen.

At the plenary session of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the CPC on Thursday, Wang Qishan was elected secretary of CCDI.

The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China wrapped up on Wednesday.

 “Ahead of us are unprecedented opportunities for development as well as risks and challenges unknown before. The whole Party must keep in mind the trust the people have placed in us and the great expectations they have of us,” Hu Jintao said in an address to 2,307 delegates at the closing of the Party congress.

 According to the Party Constitution, the highest bodies of the CPC are the National Congress and the Central Committee it elects.

Altogether, there are 205 members and 171 alternate members in the new Central Committee. This compares with 204 members and 167 alternate members elected five years ago.

 Xi and Li were members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 17th Central Committee.

The other members of the Standing Committee – Hu Jintao, 69, Wu Bangguo, 71, Wen Jiabao, 70, Jia Qinglin, 72, Li Changchun, 68, He Guoqiang, 69, Zhou Yongkang, 69 – will not remain on the new Central Committee.

 The report was hailed as a political blueprint for completing the building of a “moderately prosperous society in all aspects” and accelerating socialist modernization.

The resolution said the congress agrees on the plan in the report for promoting socialist economic, political, cultural, social and ecological progress in China.

“Combating corruption and promoting political integrity is a clear-cut and long-term political commitment of the Party and a major political issue of great concern to the people,” it said.

M.D