Xi Jinping Emphasizes Importance of People's Congresses in Speech Marking 70th Anniversary

Celebrating 70 Years of People's Congresses in China

On September 14, 2024, President Xi Jinping addressed a gathering commemorating the 70th anniversary of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's highest organ of state power. In his speech, Xi emphasized the importance of upholding, improving, and effectively running the system of people's congresses, which he described as China's fundamental political system.

Xi highlighted the need to strengthen confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in developing whole-process people's democracy. He emphasized that the system of people's congresses is a product of the Chinese people's long struggle under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Xi described the system as "an entirely new political system that has grown from Chinese soil," hailing it as a significant innovation in the evolution of political institutions throughout history. He contrasted the current system with the past, where power was concentrated in the hands of a few, leading to oppression and exploitation. Now, under the Party's leadership, the people are empowered to govern the country as its masters.

Xi acknowledged the system's success in driving rapid economic development and long-term social stability over the past 70 years. He emphasized its role as an institutional guarantee for these achievements and its embodiment of the country's socialist nature.

Xi stressed the importance of upholding the CPC's leadership and using institutions to ensure that the people govern the country. He emphasized the need for people's congresses to play a leading role in legislation, particularly in key, emerging, and foreign-related fields.

He also highlighted their crucial role in overseeing both the Party and the country, ensuring that all state organs exercise their powers lawfully and that the people's rights and interests are protected and realized. Finally, Xi emphasized the need for people's congresses to maintain close ties with the people and serve as a bridge between the Party, the state, and the people.

The meeting was attended by high-ranking officials, including Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, and Vice President Han Zheng. Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the meeting.