Fellow Deputies,
We owe our achievements in 2023 to General Secretary Xi Jinping, who is at the helm charting the course, to the sound guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, to the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and to the concerted efforts of the whole Party, the armed forces, and Chinese people of all ethnic groups.
On behalf of the State Council, I express sincere gratitude to all our people, and to all other political parties, people’s organizations, and public figures from all sectors of society. I express heartfelt appreciation to our fellow countrymen and women in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, in Taiwan, and overseas. I also express heartfelt thanks to the governments of other countries, international organizations, and friends across the world who have shown understanding and support for us in China as we pursue modernization.
While recognizing our achievements, we are keenly aware of problems and challenges that confront us. Global economic growth lacks steam, and regional hotspot issues keep erupting. This has made China’s external environment more complex, severe, and uncertain.
The foundation for China’s sustained economic recovery and growth is not solid enough, as evidenced by a lack of effective demand, overcapacity in some industries, low public expectations, and many lingering risks and hidden dangers. Furthermore, there are blockages in domestic economic flows, and the global economy is affected by disruptions.
Some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face difficulties in their operations. We are confronted with both pressure on overall job creation and structural employment problems, and there are still many weak links in public services. Some primary-level governments are facing fiscal difficulties.
China’s capacity for scientific and technological innovation needs to be further improved. There are still many challenging issues concerning reforms in key areas that need to be addressed. We have a long way to go in protecting and improving the environment, and weak links in workplace safety should not be ignored.
There is also room for improvement in the work of the government. Pointless
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