In the golden autumn of October, the national flag is fluttering and the whole country celebrates. Today, people of all ethnic groups across the country are full of joy as they usher in the 54th birthday of the Republic of China; Chinese people from all over the country are singing to their hearts' content and deeply blessing the ancient and young motherland!
This year’s National Day, everything is new and extraordinary. Looking back at the turn of spring and summer, when the people of the country were vigorously striving to achieve the grand goal of building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way, our country encountered a sudden SARS epidemic. In the face of this severe test, the people of the country have united as one, worked together to overcome the difficulties, vigorously carried forward the great national spirit, and persisted in focusing on the prevention and control of SARS with one hand and the central task of economic construction with the other. We have achieved a major victory in the prevention and control of SARS and maintained a good momentum of rapid economic growth. After going through wind and rain, we see the rainbow again. The fight against SARS has greatly enhanced the courage and ability of our people to overcome difficulties and enhanced the cohesion of the Chinese nation.
The great motherland, economic development, political stability, social progress, and national unity show a new atmosphere and good prospects. The first 20 years of this century are a period of important strategic opportunities for our country that must be firmly grasped and can achieve great results. Concentrating our efforts to comprehensively build a higher-level moderately prosperous society that benefits more than one billion people is the goal of the people across the country in the new century and new stage. Achieving this ambitious goal is in line with the common aspiration and fundamental interests of the people of all ethnic groups in the country. Those who fall behind will be beaten, and only those who are rich can be angry. Concentrating our efforts on building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way and enabling our country to develop developed productive forces are the material basis for the prosperity of socialism with Chinese characteristics and for us to take the initiative in the increasingly fierce international competition. It is also the material basis for the country to be prosperous and strong, and for the people to live and work in peace and contentment. The material basis for long-term social stability. No matter what the circumstances, we must concentrate our energy, focus on construction, wholeheartedly pursue development, firmly hold the center of economic construction unswervingly, continuously enhance our country's comprehensive national strength, and strive to create a new situation in reform, opening up, and modernization.