Fellow Deputies,

Consolidating and developing the great unity of all our ethnic groups is a fundamental guarantee for the long-term stability and prosperity of the country and serves the fundamental interests of the people of all ethnic groups. We will adhere to and improve the system of regional ethnic autonomy and fully implement the central leadership's policies and measures for supporting the development of ethnic minorities and ethnic minority areas. We will formulate and implement a five-year plan to support development of ethnic groups with small populations, press ahead with the "bring prosperity to border areas and their residents" campaign, and develop programs for ethnic minorities. Let the people of all ethnic groups work hard together and write a new chapter of the history of development and prosperity of the Chinese nation.

We will comprehensively implement the Party's basic policy on religious work, thoroughly implement the Regulations on Supervising Religious Affairs, and get religious figures and believers to play an active role in promoting economic development and social harmony.

We will continue to improve our work related to overseas Chinese affairs. We will protect the just rights and interests of overseas Chinese and the legitimate rights and interests of returned overseas Chinese and their families, and make full use of their unique role in promoting the reunification of the motherland and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Fellow Deputies,

Strengthening national defense and building a powerful people's army are important guarantees for safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests and building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Keeping the overall work of the Party and government firmly in mind and directing our attention to effectively carrying out the army's historic mission in this new century and this new stage, we need to comprehensively make our army more revolutionary, modern and standardized, and constantly enhance its capability to accomplish a range of military tasks, the most paramount of which is winning local wars under information age conditions. We will steadfastly give top priority to raising the overall ideological and political standards of the army. We will vigorously adapt our military training to the information age. We will accelerate the full modernization of the logistics support system. We will promote integrated military and civilian development, increase defense-related research, and strengthen the development of weapons and equipment. We will energetically yet prudently press ahead with reform of national defense and the military. We will steadfastly run the army with strict discipline and in accordance with the law. The military will resolutely carry out urgent, difficult, dangerous and daunting tasks, such as handling emergencies and relieving disasters. We will modernize the armed police force to improve its ability to carry out duties, respond to emergencies, combat terrorism and safeguard stability. We will strengthen defense mobilization and reserve forces. We will consolidate and develop unity between the army and the government and between the army and the people.

Fellow Deputies,

We will unwaveringly implement the principle of "one country, two systems" under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong and the people of Macao administer Macao, both with a high degree of autonomy, and fully support the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions in developing their economies and improving their people's wellbeing. We will support Hong Kong in consolidating and elevating its position as an international financial, trade and shipping center. We will support Macao in developing itself into a world center of tourism and leisure and appropriately diversifying its economy. We will make full use of the unique role Hong Kong and Macao play in China's overall development strategy. We will base cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao more firmly on a set of mechanisms, and support the deepening of intra-regional cooperation between Guangdong and Hong Kong and Macao for mutual benefit. In the historical course of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, people on the mainland will join hands and forge ahead with our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao, sharing the dignity and honor of our great country. We will adhere to the major principles and policies for developing relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and promoting the peaceful reunification of our motherland in the new situation. We will continue to carry out cross-Straits negotiations, vigorously implement the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), strengthen industrial cooperation, accelerate cooperation in and the development of emerging industries, finance and other modern service industries, and support qualified mainland enterprises to invest in Taiwan. We will support the Western Taiwan Straits Economic Zone in leading the way and exploring new paths for exchanges and cooperation between the two sides. We will increase cross-Straits exchanges between people of all walks of life, and vigorously expand cultural and educational cooperation across the Straits. We will enhance mutual political trust, consolidate the political foundation for peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, and work together to safeguard the favorable situation of peaceful development of cross-Straits relations. We are convinced that as long as all Chinese people at home and abroad work together, the great cause of peaceful reunification of the motherland will be realized.

Fellow Deputies,

We will continue to hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation; adhere to an independent foreign policy of peace and the path of peaceful development; pursue an open strategy of mutual benefit; promote the building of a harmonious world with lasting peace and common prosperity; and create a more favorable external environment and more beneficial external conditions for China's modernization.

We will maintain the sound, steady development of our relations with major powers, actively promote dialogue and cooperation, and expand common interests and the foundation for cooperation. We will adhere to our foreign policy of friendship and partnership with neighboring countries, deepen good-neighborly relations of friendship and cooperation with them, and promote the processes for regional and sub-regional cooperation. We will enhance our traditional friendships and cooperation with other developing countries, further make use of and build on our achievements in cooperation, and give impetus to innovations in cooperation and the development of related mechanisms. We will take an active part in multilateral diplomacy, and use the G20 summit and other diplomatic forums as our main platform for strengthening the coordination of macroeconomic policies; advancing the reform of the international economic and financial system; promoting robust, sustainable and balanced growth of the world economy; playing a constructive role in helping resolve hot issues and global problems; and fulfilling our international responsibilities and duties. The Chinese government and people are willing to work with the international community to respond to risks and challenges, share in development opportunities, and make new contributions to humanity's lofty causes of peace and development.

Fellow Deputies,

Looking back, we are proud of our extraordinary, glorious achievements, and looking forward, we are even more confident in the splendid future of our country. Under the leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary, let us firmly seize historic opportunities, boldly meet all challenges, break new ground, work diligently in unity, strive to get the Twelfth Five-Year Plan off to a good start, and continue to advance the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2011)