China’s ‘two sessions’ 2023: President Xi Jinping begins third term urging a balance of growth and security

In short keynote speech, Xi vows to achieve the goals he set out in the 20th national party congress: returning China to forefront of great powers

Xi says Beijing will actively pursue a peaceful solution to Taiwan issue but will ‘unwaveringly push forward the process of reunification of the motherland’

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China’s President Xi Jinping speaks during the closing session of the National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 13, 2023. He capped this year’s National People’s Congress by securing a third, norm-defying term in office. Photo: Reuters

Published: 10:26am, 13 Mar 2023Updated: 4:59pm, 13 Mar 2023

China must balance growth and security in pursuing national rejuvenation, President Xi Jinping said in a short keynote speech on Monday, marking the beginning of his unprecedented third term.

He said China’s “great rejuvenation” was now an “irreversible historical process” after a century of struggle that had “wiped out the nation’s humiliation”.

For the first time, Xi publicly mentioned his third term and vowed to achieve the goals he set out in the 20th Communist Party congress: returning China to the forefront of great powers.

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“This is my third time assuming the lofty office of president,” he said at the closing of China’s national legislature, adding that “the trust of the people is the biggest driving force for me to move forward, and it is also a heavy responsibility on my shoulders”.

He pledged he would “faithfully perform the duties entrusted by the constitution” and would “never let down the great trust” of all Chinese people.

The president said balancing development and security would be the key to delivering this.

“Security is the foundation of development. Stability is the precondition of prosperity. We must have a comprehensive systematic approach to ensure national security. We need to improve public governance and develop a holistic national security framework,” Xi said.