President Xi Jinping's New-Year address on December 31 summarized China's achievements in 2018 and paid tribute to those who have made contributions to the country's development.

Over the past year, China has advanced supply-side structural reform and fought three tough battles of preventing and defusing major risks, implementing targeted poverty alleviation and tackling pollution. It has kept the major economic indicators within a reasonable range. Headway has been made in efforts to protect the blue skies and defend the rivers and soil from pollution. China has also intensified efforts to improve people's wellbeing and raise the standards of living.

Besides, China successfully hosted international events like the annual Boao Forum for Asia conference in Hainan, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Qingdao, as well as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in Beijing, advancing the Belt and Road Initiative in 2018.

Reform and opening up was accelerated in the past year, with an institutional reform of state and Party organs and over 100 key reform measures launched. The first China International Import Expo and the construction of the Hainan Pilot Free Trade Zone both demonstrate China's determination to deepen reform and opening up.

The goals Xi set out for 2019 include cutting taxes and fees for enterprises, respecting talent of all kinds, and taking better care of veterans, which demonstrate a people-centered ideology.

China will continue its reform and opening up in 2019 and the Communist Party of China will continue to lead the work for the renewal of the Chinese nation. As Xi said, "We are running at full speed toward the realization of our dreams."

(This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published on Opinion.people.com.cn on January 1)