Speaking at the closing of the annual session of the National People’s Congress, the President urged making further progress in democracy and upholding the unity of the leadership of the Communist Party of China and law-based governance.

He considered it vital to adopt a people-centered development philosophy so that the achievements of modernization benefit each person fairly and there are more remarkable and substantive results in promoting common prosperity.

He called for strengthening and expanding the unity among the country’s inhabitants, their ethnic groups and the diaspora in order to mobilize “all favorable factors”, so as to “form a powerful force that will facilitate the construction of a great modern socialist country and the advancement of national revitalization.”

The President affirmed that in his new presidential term he will fulfill the responsibilities granted by the Constitution, the needs of the nation and the interests of the population.

He also insisted on better coordinating development and security, which he considered involves strengthening China’s ability to protect itself, and optimizing the defense system, for which he instructed to transform the armed forces into a “Great Wall of Steel” that is capable of safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests.

The statesman also called for the application of strategies for the progress in science, education, and innovation, in order to achieve greater technological independence, equalize the levels of rural and urban progress, and build a low-carbon economy.

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