China will achieve the goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects and fulfill the Chinese Dream of great national rejuvenation under the firm leadership of the Party and the great unity of the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, announced during a gathering in Beijing celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC that China has realized the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

After helicopters flew in the formation of "100," representing the 100 years of the Party, and military aircraft flew over Tian'anmen Square in echelons, the grand gathering began.

A representative of China's non-Communist parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and personages without party affiliation congratulated the CPC on its 100th founding anniversary before representatives of the Chinese Communist Youth League members and Young Pioneers paid tribute to the CPC and expressed commitment to the Party's cause. 

A 100-gun salute and a national flag-raising ceremony followed.

In his speech, Xi confirmed that China has realized the first centenary goal – building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

"This means that we have brought about a historic resolution to the problem of absolute poverty in China, and we are now marching in confident strides toward the second centenary goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects," he said.

Xi then summed up the CPC's achievements over the past century­, saying the Party has had great success in the new-democratic revolution, socialist revolution and construction, reform and opening-up, and socialist modernization, and great success for socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

He also said the memory of veteran revolutionaries and revolutionary martyrs should be cherished.

Looking into the future, Xi said that the CPC is rallying and leading the Chinese people on a new journey towards realizing the second centenary goal.

"It is certain that with the firm leadership of the Party and the great unity of the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, we will achieve the goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects and fulfill the Chinese Dream of great national rejuvenation," he said.

Xi also touched about Hong Kong and Macao, stressing that the central government exercises overall jurisdiction over the two special administrative regions. As for Taiwan, he said that "no one should underestimate the great resolve, the strong will, and the extraordinary ability of the Chinese people to defend their national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Emphasizing that the Chinese nation does not carry aggressive or hegemonic traits in its genes, he concluded his speech by saying that China has always worked to safeguard world peace, contributed to global development and preserved international order.

(Cover: A flag-raising ceremony at the grand gathering in honor of the CPC centenary at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, China, July 1, 2021. /Xinhua)