Faith in China

Two weeks after his November election, Xi showed his confidence in leading the country while visiting the National Museum of China along with other members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

"We will surely complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects when the CPC celebrates its centenary, and turn China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious when the PRC marks its centennial," Xi said.

"I firmly believe that the great dream of the renewal of the Chinese nation will come true," Xi said in front of an exhibition depicting the country's struggles over the past 170 years.

Rising from a CPC branch secretary in a village brigade, Xi fostered his experience in performing duties, dealing with domestic issues and handling foreign and defense affairs while serving higher positions.

An enterprising man, Xi knows how global and national conditions have changed and which challenges are facing the nation. His confidence in coming up with the idea of the "Chinese dream", as well as his determination, is impressive.

"Our system will be improved and the superiority of our socialist system will be fully demonstrated through a brighter future," Xi said. "We should have firm confidence in our path, in our theories and in our system."

"The selection of our path is a life-or-death issue for the future of the CPC," he told the new leadership. "We should unswervingly uphold socialism with Chinese characteristics."

He called for the new leaders to enhance their study and practice of the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics, accelerate the construction of a moderately prosperous society, improve the people's livelihoods, strengthen Party-building and deepen reform and opening-up.

Emphasizing the importance of the rule of law in building a moderately prosperous society, Xi called on CPC members to take the lead to ensure the implementation of the Constitution and act in accordance with the law.

"The people should be able to enjoy justice and fairness in every legal case," Xi said.

"To forge iron, one's own self must be strong," he added. "Our job is to work with all CPC members to supervise our own conduct through strict discipline and effectively solve major problems within the Party."

Extravagance risks the collapse of a political party, Xi said, warning that corruption has become a life-or-death challenge facing the CPC and the nation.

After becoming the general secretary, Xi promised to crack down on corruption, "restrict power by the cage of regulations" and make cadres be respectful of law and refrain from wrongdoing.

He also vowed to go after both "flies" and "tigers", which implies corrupt low-level functionaries and powerful ones.

A number of suspected corrupt officials have been investigated or prosecuted over the past four months.

Being the general secretary, Xi conducted his first inspection tour to Guangdong province, a pioneer in China's reform and opening-up more than three decades ago.

Many interpreted the move as a strong sign to continue the country's reform and opening-up drive.

To bring the "Chinese dream" to fruition, the country needs to continue its reform and opening-up drive, Xi reiterated during his trip to Guangdong and in group studies conducted for the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

"We'll never stop reform and opening-up," Xi said. "We must waste no time in deepening reforms in key areas."

Some of the reforms China needs to carry out include transforming government functions and streamlining the administrative system.

At the second plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee held in February, Xi stressed that the government should figure out what it should do and not do in changing its functions.

Different roles and responsibilities of the government, the market and society should be clearly defined, but the service of the government to the people should never change, Xi said.

Sustainable, high-quality economic growth is also imperative for the "Chinese dream", as China is now the world's second-largest economy.

"Future growth must be tangible and not exaggerated," Xi said. "It should be sustainable with good performance and good quality."