(December 31, 2014)

Tomorrow we are going to step into the year 2015. At the beginning of the year everything will take on a new look. We are all glad to get together to celebrate this joyful moment.

First, on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the State Council and the Central Military Commission, I would like to extend my holiday greeting to the various democratic parties, federations of industry and commerce, personage without party affiliation, people's organizations, to workers, farmers, intellectuals, cadres and people from all walks of life, to officers and soldiers of the People's Liberation Army, armed police and police, to our compatriots in the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions, our compatriots in Taiwan and overseas Chinese, as well as to friends in other countries and regions in the world who care about and support China's modernization! Happy New Year!

In the past year, the CPC Central Committee led people of all ethnic groups in China, adhering to the keynote of maintaining stability while seeking progress, to actively adapt to the "new normal" in economic development, with a focus on solving important issues of overall, strategic and long-term significance, promoting socialist economic,

political, cultural, social, and ecological progress, and boosting national defense and build our armed forces. We made

significant progress in China's diplomatic work. We carried out the "one country, two systems" policy, and adamantly safeguarding prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and

Macao. We celebrated the 15th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland. We actively promoted the peaceful deve-lopment of the cross-Straits relations, and maintained good momentum in cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation.

The CPC Central Committee paid special attention to carrying out the Party's mass line education activities, with a focus on punishing formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagancy, which breathes fresh air into the Party and the government's work style.

We stepped up the fight against corruption, catching both tigers and flies. A number of corrupt officials were punished by Party disciplines and state laws.

At this time last year, I said here "An arrow that has been released makes no turning back." We should unswer-vingly strive to realize the goals of reform. Over the year, we have swiftly and steadily pushed ahead various reform measures. Eighty key reform tasks set by the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform have been completed. In addition, relevant Central Government departments have also carried out 108 reform tasks. A total of 370 reform results have been produced. Some hard nuts have been cracked. Reform has instilled strong vigor into China's development.

The achievements were made by all people together, so the glory belongs to everyone.

Currently, time and conditions are overall favorable, yet difficulties and risks are also increasing. We should fully implement the decisions of the 18th CPC National Congress and the third and fourth plenums of the 18th CPC Central Committee, follow the guidance of Deng Xiao-ping Theory, the important thought of "Three Represents" and the Scientific Outlook on Development, continue to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects, comprehensively deepen reform and advance the rule of law, govern the Party strictly, emphasize growth through innovation, step up risk prevention and control, guarantee people's livelihood, and meet the targets set in the 12th Five-Year Plan on time.

We should steadfastly maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, deepen cross-Straits cooperation and exchanges to strengthen the kinship and strive to realize the Chinese Dream together. We should, following the principles of peace, development, cooperation and win-win outcomes, actively carry out the Belt and Road Initiatives, so as to promote progress in human civilization.

The Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee produced top-level design and made overall arrangements for comprehensively advancing the rule of law. "When those who uphold the law are strong, the state is strong." Comprehensively advancing the rule of law is a widespread and profound revolution in national governance. We should implement, item by item, the decisions and measures designed to comprehensively advance the rule of law.

Problems are the voice of the time, and people's support is of utmost importance in politics. While pushing ahead various work of the Party and the state, we must be problem-oriented and listen to the voice of the people. We should be realistic and pragmatic, actively adapt to new changes in domestic and international situations, accurately grasp rules, rely closely on people, and vigorously forge ahead in all work. Our undertaking is brand new, so while going forward, we should not blindly follow the beaten track or copy others while ignoring our national conditions. We should take our own road firmly and steadily.

In the past year, we celebrated the 65th anniversary of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which is an important channel for consultative democracy. We have vigorously built consultative platforms, brought forth innovation in consultative bodies and increased consultative frequency, so that significant issues concerning reform, development and stability can be researched in depth, social conditions and public opinions can be collected, and democratic supervision can be carried out, which has contributed significantly to the promotion of reform and opening up as well as socialist modernization.

In the new year, we will consolidate and develop the broadest possible patriotic united front, uphold and improve the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC, continue to unite more people and add more strength to develop our course. The CPPCC will conduct in-depth studies and inspections, discuss state affairs through consultancy, actively carry out democratic supervision, tell the truth, advance forthright opinions, propose pragmatic measures, and offer good advice. We should build a stronger democratic consultative system, construct consultative platforms for various parties, groups and people of all ethnic groups and from all walks of life, enrich the forms of consultancy, create a democratic atmosphere, and instill new vigor into our socialist democratic politics.

The loftier our goals are, the heavier are our tasks and the more united we should be in our work. Let us unite more closely and courageously march toward our common goals and a more splendid tomorrow!