A grand reception celebrating the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) was held at the Great Hall of the People on the evening of Sept. 30. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president, and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the reception and delivered an important speech. He noted that realizing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a great cause that none have attempted before. Both aspirations and challenges inspire us to seize the day and forge ahead with unyielding perseverance. We should unite more closely around the CPC Central Committee, press ahead with determination, work diligently, and strive to write an even more magnificent chapter of Chinese modernization, Xi said.
Li Qiang presided over the reception. Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended the event. About 800 people from home and abroad gathered to celebrate the PRC's 76th founding anniversary.
In the banquet hall of the Great Hall of the People, crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow, suffusing the space with festive atmosphere. Above the rostrum hung the solemn national emblem, flanked by the bold numerals "1949" and "2025", which stood out prominently against vibrant red flags.
At around 5:30 p.m., accompanied by the lively melody of the "Welcome Song," Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders entered the banquet hall, waving to greet the attendees, which drew warm applause.
As the reception commenced, the entire audience stood up to sing the national anthem of the People's Republic of China -- "March of the Volunteers." The majestic melody resounded throughout the hall.
Xi delivered an important speech. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, he first extended festive greetings to the people of all ethnic groups in the country, to the officers and soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force, and to non-CPC political parties and personages without party affiliation. He also sent sincere greetings to compatriots in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, and Taiwan, as well as overseas Chinese. Finally, he expressed heartfelt gratitude to friendly countries and international friends who have long shown genuine concern for and actively supported the PRC's development.
Xi noted that over the past 76 years since the founding of New China, the CPC has led the people in making unremitting efforts generation after generation in a spirit of self-reliance, achieving remarkable accomplishments that will go down in history. A look back at history reveals how the Chinese nation has emerged from the brink of national peril and embarked on the path toward great rejuvenation -- a journey fraught with hardships and struggles, yet one brimming with great passion and glorious triumphs. Not long ago, we solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which has greatly invigorated national spirit, inspired patriotism and pooled the strength for endeavor, Xi said. It is imperative to continue to draw on historical experience to build the country better, so that the cause pioneered by the older generations of leaders and revolutionary martyrs will continue to thrive, he added.
Xi stressed that new progress and achievements have been made in various undertakings of the Party and country amid a complex situation this year, as China has further deepened reform comprehensively, steadily promoted high-quality development, ensured and improved people's well-being, and advanced full and rigorous Party self-governance. Noting that the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee is scheduled for October to study proposals for the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for national economic and social development, Xi called for efforts to focus closely on the Party's central tasks on the new journey in the new era and ensure sound planning and implementation of the goals, tasks and strategic measures for the 15th Five-Year Plan, so as to secure decisive progress in basically achieving socialist modernization.
Xi emphasized that on the new journey, we must unswervingly implement the "one country, two systems" policy and support Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions in better integrating into the country's overall development, boosting their economies and improving the people's well-being. Xi called for deepening exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait, firmly opposing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference, and resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
As the world is undergoing accelerating changes unseen in a century, we should champion humanity's shared values, practice genuine multilateralism, promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, and work with other countries to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Xi said.
Amid festive music, domestic and international guests raised their glasses to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, wishing for the prosperity of China, the happiness and well-being of its people, and enduring friendship between the Chinese people and people around the world.
Also present at the reception were members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, secretaries of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, vice chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, vice premiers and state councilors of the State Council, director of the National Commission of Supervision, president of the Supreme People's Court, procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, vice chairpersons of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and retired senior leaders currently in Beijing, as well as members and former members of the Central Military Commission.
The reception was also attended by leading officials of central authorities and Beijing Municipality; leaders of the non-CPC political parties' central committees and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and representatives of personages without party affiliation; representatives of recipients of national honorary titles and commendations currently in Beijing; representatives of national model workers and exemplary individuals; representatives of ethnic minorities who have made important contributions to stability, development and unity in areas with large ethnic minority populations; personages from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, Taiwan compatriots and representatives of overseas Chinese, currently in Beijing; diplomatic envoys to China, resident representatives of international organizations, and some foreign experts.
