The latest issue (2021/09; April 30, 2021) of the Party theoretical journal Qiu Shi published the full text of CCP CC General Secretary Xi Jinping's hitherto unpublished speech entitled 'Grasp the new development stage, implement the new development concept, and build a new development pattern'. Xi Jinping delivered the speech at a seminar on the study and implementation of the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Party for the main leading cadres at the provincial and ministerial level on January 11. Asserting that great historical achievements have been made in building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects, Xi Jinping said "Realizing common prosperity is not only an economic issue but also a major political issue related to the party's ruling foundation. We must not allow the gap between the rich and the poor to widen, and the poor get richer, the rich get richer, and there must not be an insurmountable gap between the rich and the poor." He referred also to the urban-rural gap and the need to accelerate population transfer across regions; reminded that the "Recommendations" of the "14th Five-Year Plan" put "security issues in a very prominent position and emphasized that security development should run through all areas and the entire process of national development. If the foundation of security is not strong, the development of the building will be shaken. We must adhere to the organic unity of political security, people's security, and the supremacy of national interests." He added "Macroeconomics must prevent major ups and downs, capital markets must prevent foreign capital from entering and exiting, food, energy, and important resources must be securely supplied, the supply chain of the industrial chain must be stable and secure, and the disorderly expansion and barbaric growth of capital must be prevented. It is necessary to ensure the safety of the ecological environment and resolutely do a good job in safe production. In the social field, it is necessary to prevent the risk of large-scale unemployment, strengthen public health security, and effectively resolve various mass incidents." In this context, he said, "During my inspection in Zhejiang, I found that under the impact of the epidemic, a partial break in the global industrial chain supply chain has directly affected China's domestic economic cycle." He told the cadres "Our country’s economic strength, scientific and technological strength, comprehensive national power, and people's living standards have jumped to a new great level, becoming the world's second-largest economy, the largest industrial country, the largest trading country of goods, and the country with the largest foreign exchange reserves, a gross domestic product of over 100 trillion yuan, a per capita GDP of over 10,000 US dollars, an urbanization rate of over 60% and a middle-income group of over 400 million people." He added, "in three more five-year planning periods, by the middle of this century, we will build a strong, strong, democratic, civilized, harmonious, and beautiful modernized socialist country." Xi Jinping emphasised that "The world today is experiencing the greatest change unseen in a century. In recent times, the world has been mostly characterized by one word - δΉ±/luan (chaos), and this trend looks set to continue. The response to the pandemic of COVID-19 has been a test to the leadership and institutional excellence of countries, and the results - which are good, which are bad - are obvious. Time and momentum are on our side, and this is where our determination and confidence lie." Pointing out that unprecedented challenges will face China's development which "is still in an important strategic opportunity period", said overall, the opportunities outweigh the challenges. Xi Jinping reminded cadres of the old saying: "cautious dealing with easy things can avoid danger, careful handling of small things can keep big disasters away." He then advised that "The entire Party must continue to be modest and prudent, work hard, mobilize all the positive factors that can be mobilized, unite all the forces that can be united, spare no effort to take care of our own business to achieve our established goals in perseverance." He stressed "No one can beat us, choke us! " and China should accelerate the building of a new development paradigm to enhance "survival, competitiveness, development and sustainability in a variety of foreseeable and unforeseeable storms and shocking waves; and to ensure that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation process not be delayed or even interrupted."
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