Xu Lin:

Thank you, Mr. Wang. The floor is now open to questions. Please identify the news organization you represent before raising your questions. Since there are many foreign reporters present, simultaneous interpretation services will be available throughout the press conference. If reporters ask questions in English, the question part will be rendered into Chinese by consecutive interpretation. Please go ahead.

CCTV:

According to the communique of this plenary session, establishing Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and defining the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era are of decisive significance. It is needed to advance the cause of the Party and the country in the new era and drive forward the historic process of national rejuvenation. How do you understand this "decisive significance?" Thank you.

Jiang Jinquan:

I'm glad to answer this question. Establishing Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and defining the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era are of decisive significance for advancing the cause of the Party and the country in the new era and for driving forward the historic process of national rejuvenation. This has a sufficient practical basis. The historic achievements and shifts in the cause of the Party and the country since the 18th CPC National Congress are fundamentally attributed to the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core and the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Establishing Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and defining the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era reflect the common will of the Party, the armed forces, and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups. Moreover, it also has a theoretical basis: strong leadership and science-based theoretical guidance are fundamental to the future of the Party and the country and the success of the undertakings of the Party and the people.

For a country and a political party, the leadership core is of vital importance. Comrade Deng Xiaoping once keenly observed that "Any leading group should have a core; a leadership with no core is unreliable." For the CPC, a big party with its membership exceeding 95 million, and for China, a huge country with 56 ethnic groups and 1.4 billion people, it would be unimaginable had there been no core in the Party Central Committee and the whole Party. There would be a lack of cohesion and nothing could be accomplished. Only when there is a core in the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, can the whole Party have strength. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping, with profound care for the people, extraordinary political wisdom and a strong sense of responsibility, has led the whole Party and Chinese people in demonstrating great historical initiative, starting a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, scoring historical achievements and transformations, and ultimately building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects across the vast land of China. Xi, who enjoys popular confidence, is worthy of the title of the core of the Party, leader of the people, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Establishing Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole is the call of the times, the choice of history and the aspirations of the people. By firmly supporting and upholding the core position of General Secretary Xi Jinping, the whole Party will have an anchor, the entire Chinese population will have a backbone, and the giant vessel of national rejuvenation will have a helmsman. No matter what choppy waters we might encounter, we will be able to stay calm and composed.

Only when a political party follows sound theories can it hold the power of truth; only when a cause is guided by sound theories can it be promising. Over the past century, our Party has been able to accomplish arduous tasks that other political forces are not able to and has scored one victory after another in taking on various political forces as well as difficulties and challenges. The fundamental reasons can be found in our adaptation of the basic principles of Marxism to China's specific reality and its fine traditional culture, and continuously advancing theoretical innovation and effectively guiding new practices with new theories. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has demonstrated remarkable insights into the times and stayed on top of the trends of the times. With extraordinary theoretical courage, he has put forward a series of original strategic thoughts and innovative ideas and established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This is the Marxism of contemporary China and of the 21st century. It embodies the best of the Chinese culture and ethos in our times and provides a sound guide to action for promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. By establishing the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, our Party is able to, within the context of an increasingly complex interplay between national rejuvenation and once-in-a-century changes in the world, move in the right direction, brave winds and waves, and stay on course; grasp development patterns, leverage a sound worldview and methodologies to plan developments, address risks and challenges, and lead the people of all ethnic groups to continuously open up bright prospects for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Thank you.