BEIJING- The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) opened Wednesday as socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a "new era."

On behalf of the 18th Central Committee of the CPC, Xi Jinping is delivering a report titled "Secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and strive for the great success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era."

The theme of the congress is to "Remain true to our original aspiration and keep our mission firmly in mind, hold high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, strive for the great success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, and work tirelessly to realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation."

"The original aspiration and the mission of Chinese Communists is to seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation," Xi said. 

Socialism with Chinese characteristics enters new era

Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, Xi said.

"We will unite the Chinese people of all ethnic groups and lead them to a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and in the drive to secure the success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era," he said.

China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development. The prospects are bright but the challenges are severe, he said.

Principal contradiction facing Chinese society has evolved in new era

"What we now face is the contradiction between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life," he said.

The evolution of the principal contradiction represents a "historic shift that affects the whole landscape and that creates many new demands for the work of the Party and the country," Xi said.

Previously the principal contradiction was described as one between "the ever-growing material and cultural needs of the people and backward social production."

China has seen the basic needs of over a billion people met, has basically made it possible for people to live decent lives, and will soon bring the building of a moderately prosperous society to a successful completion, he said.

The needs to be met for the people to live a better life are increasingly broad. Not only have their material and cultural needs grown; their demands for democracy, rule of law, fairness and justice, security, and a better environment are increasing, he said.

"While China's overall productive forces have significantly improved and in many areas our production capacity leads the world, our problem is that our development is unbalanced and inadequate," he said.

"This has become the main constraining factor in meeting the people's increasing needs for a better life," Xi said.

Achieving national rejuvenation will be "no walk in the park"

Citing a Chinese saying that "the last leg of a journey just marks the halfway point," Xi demands every Party member "be prepared to work even harder toward this goal."

"Today, we are closer, more confident, and more capable than ever before of making the goal of national rejuvenation a reality," Xi said.

"Realizing our great dream demands a great struggle," Xi said.

Cause of CPC, nation see 'historic shifts' in past five years

Xi said that "historic shifts" have been made in the cause of the Communist Party of China and the country in the past five years.

China's GDP rises from $8.2t to $12.1t over five years

China's GDP rose from 54 trillion to 80 trillion yuan (about $8.2-$12.1 trillion) over the past five years, Xi said.

Over 60m people lifted out of poverty in past five years

More than 60 million people have been lifted out of poverty over the past five years, Xi said.

CPC to build great modern socialist country

Xi said the CPC will build China into "a great modern socialist country."

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