Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at the closing meeting of the first session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 17, 2013. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
BEIJING -- The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, concluded its annual session Sunday morning, completing the transition of state leadership.
Xi Jinping, newly-elected Chinese President, called for confidence in the socialism with Chinese characteristics and persistent efforts to realize "Chinese dream" in his keynote speech at the closing meeting.
"Chinese dream is a dream of the whole nation as well as of every individual," he said.
To realize the "Chinese dream," China must take "the Chinese way," which is the socialism with Chinese characteristics, Xi said.
Chinese people should hold confidence in the theory, the road and the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, he said.
Xi, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, was elected president of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and chairman of the PRC Central Military Commission at the NPC session on Thursday.
In his speech, Xi expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the NPC deputies and people of all ethnic groups for the trust they have placed on him in his election as the state president, saying his election means "glorious mission" and "profound responsibilities."
"I will always be loyal to our motherland, be loyal to the people and dedicate all my time and energy to my duties and responsibilities to serve the people," Xi said, adding he will put himself under the supervision of the people.
The closing meeting, held at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing, was presided over by Zhang Dejiang, newly-elected chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.
In his speech to the meeting, Zhang pledged to push forward the rule of law and improve supervision on the administrative and judicial powers.
At Sunday's meeting, the NPC adopted a number of important documents, including the government work report, the central and local budgets and the national economic and social development plan for 2013.
It also adopted the work reports of the 11th NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.
