Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, speaks at a symposium for provincial and ministerial level officials held on Wednesday and Thursday in preparation for the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. MA ZHANCHENG / XINHUA

Xi said that experience has proved that socialism with Chinese characteristics is the best way to ensure the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people, and there is every reason to be confident as great achievements have been made over the past four decades since reform and opening-up was launched, especially over the past five years in terms of implementing a new concept of development, deepening reform, enhancing the rule of law, improving the environment and building a strong military.

A number of so-called China-watchers have long predicted a "China collapse". But the truth is that China's growth rate still surpasses that of many major economies in the world, the Party is getting stronger and the country's circle of friends in the international community is expanding.

At present, the major task for the CPC is to lead the country to accomplish the goal of building a moderately prosperous society by 2020.

After 2020, China will strive to become a modern socialist country by 2049, the centenary of the People's Republic of China.

The Party understands that people want better education, higher incomes, stable jobs, reliable social insurance, higher quality medical services, more comfortable living conditions, a more beautiful environment and a richer cultural life.

Socialism with Chinese characteristics will prove that it can withstand the test of history and also expand the pathway to modernization for developing countries, thus providing Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to the problems facing mankind.