On the evening of September 30, 2020, the State Council held a reception at the Great Hall of the People to warmly celebrate the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, Wang Qishan and other leaders of the Party and the government as well as nearly 500 Chinese and foreign personages gathered together to celebrate the birthday of the People's Republic of China.

The Great Hall of the People was permeated with a warm and joyous atmosphere, with bloomed flowers. The national emblem was hung high above the rostrum with the reign title of "1949-2020" in big font size shining brightly against the red flags on both sides.

At around 17:30, with the joyous "a tune of welcome", Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders stepped into the banquet hall and were welcomed by warm applause.

The military band played "March of the Volunteers" and all the audience stood up and sang the national anthem after the reception began. Premier Li Keqiang addressed the reception. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, he firstly extended festival greetings to the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese nationals. He also expressed his sincere thanks to all the international friends who have shown their concerns and support for the modernization drive of China.

Li Keqiang said the 71-year history of new China is a history of struggle, in which the Chinese people, united and led by the CPC, are enduring hardships and striving for greatness, and a history of glory, in which great changes have taken place and people's living standards have improved greatly. The year 2020 is extremely unusual in the history of the PRC. Facing the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 and the global economic recession, China, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core and through the hard work and sacrifice of the entire Chinese nation, has achieved major strategic results in fighting against the epidemic by coordinating epidemic control with economic and social development and making people's lives and health the first priority. To ensure stability on Six Fronts and maintain security in Six Areas, China promptly introduced policies for large-scale bailouts, made innovations in implementation mechanisms to directly benefit enterprises and the people, further deepened reform and opening up, and stabilized the economic fundamentals. Withstanding tremendous downward pressure, China has achieved economic growth recovery and made further progress in poverty-alleviation and safeguarding the people's livelihood. The Chinese economy has shown strong resilience and socialism with Chinese characteristics enjoys broad prospects.

Li Keqiang pointed out that, at present, China's internal and external environment for development is undergoing profound and complex changes. Following the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and based on our basic national conditions, we need to adhere to the principle of making progress while working to keep performance stable, strengthen confidence, face up to challenges, and focus on running our own affairs well. We should continue to make efforts in implementing regular epidemic control measures, helping market entities get through difficulties, nurturing new economic drivers, fostering a new development paradigm, and promoting high-quality development. We will strengthen the foundation for ensuring people's wellbeing, create more job opportunities by all possible means, and do a good job to solve the people's concerns in terms of education, medical services, old-age care, and child care, among others. We will ensure the livelihood of people affected by the epidemic and flood disasters and win the fight against poverty. China will unswervingly deepen reforms, stimulate market vitality and social creativity more vigorously, create a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized business environment, and actively promote a high-level opening-up, so as to achieve major targets and tasks for the year and complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects with the hard work of the country.

Li Keqiang said China will continue to unswervingly, fully and faithfully implement the policy of One Country, Two Systems, under which the people of Hong Kong govern Hong Kong and the people of Macao govern Macao, with a high degree of autonomy for both regions and act in strict compliance with the Constitution and the Basic Law, so as to promote the steady development of One Country, Two Systems. China would adhere to the major principles and policies on work related to Taiwan, uphold the One-China Principle and the 1992 Consensus to firmly oppose and deter any Taiwan independence separatist activities and external interference. China would strengthen exchange and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait, promote peaceful and integrated development of cross-Strait relations, and advance national reunification. China will stay on the path of peaceful development, and take resolute measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and development interests. Standing for the vision to build a community with a shared future for mankind, China will expand mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries, take an active part in the reform and development of the global governance system, and work with the international community to contribute more to a victory against COVID-19 and the recovery of the global economy.

Li Keqiang noted at last that our achievements accomplished are the results of the hard work of all Chinese people and our future depends on solid work and creation. Let us rally more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, conquer difficulties to march forward, strive to build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful, and work tirelessly to realize the Chinese Dream of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation.

In the merry music, the guests and friends from both home and abroad joined the toast to the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, to China's prosperity and strength, to the wellbeing of Chinese people, and to the long-lasting friendship and cooperation between the Chinese people and people around the world.

Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, presided over the reception.

The present members also include: member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in Beijing, member of the Secretariat of CPC Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Vice Premier of the State Council, State Councilor, Director of the National Supervisory Commission, President of the Supreme People's Court, Procurator General of Supreme People's Procuratorate, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and other comrades retired from positions of leadership as well as members of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and those who served as CMC members.

Heads of relevant departments in the Party, the government, the military and people's organizations, representatives of various democratic parties and non-party democrats, heads of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, heads of Beijing Municipal Government, representatives of recipients of national meritorious service and honorary titles, representatives of outstanding individuals in fighting against the epidemic, representatives of national outstanding Communist Party members, representatives of national model workers and excellent individuals in social practice, representatives of ethnic minorities who have made important contributions to the stability, development and unity of ethnic minority areas, representatives of some compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan as well as those from overseas Chinese communities in Beijing, diplomatic envoys in China of various nations, representatives of international organizations in China, and some foreign experts also attended the reception.