President Xi Jinping used a National Day address to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China and to set out policy priorities at home and abroad.

Xi opened with greetings to: “the Chinese people of all ethnic groups,” the armed forces, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and all countries and foreign friends who have long shown understanding for and supported China,” saying: “We gather together happily today to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.”
Reviewing progress since 1949, he said China had: “through self-reliance and unrelenting efforts, made remarkable achievements that will be etched in history as landmarks.”

Looking ahead, Xi said next month’s Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee will consider recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan to: “achieve decisive progress in basically realizing socialist modernization.”

He pledged to: “resolutely implement the policy of One Country, Two Systems [the idea that there would be only one China, but regions might retain their own economic and administrative systems],” support deeper integration of Hong Kong and Macao, “resolutely oppose separatist activities for ‘Taiwan independence’ and external interference,” and champion: “true multilateralism” through China’s global initiatives.

He closed with a toast: “to the 76th anniversary…to the prosperity of China…to the friendship and cooperation between the Chinese people and people of all other countries.”