After being elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee in 2012 and Chinese president in 2013, Xi Jinping elaborated on the Chinese Dream on several occasions. He summed it up as the dream for a stronger and wealthier nation, a happy life for the people, and global peace and cooperation. He reiterated that the Chinese Dream is compatible with the aspirations of other peoples.
On May 1, 2010 the 41st World Expo opened in Shanghai. Delegations from 246 countries and international organizations participated in the event. The exhibitions, forums, performances and other activities created a fascinating kaleidoscope of world civilizations. Visits to the venue totaled 73.08 million from May 1 to October 31, a new expo attendance record.
On August 8, 2008 the Games of the XXIX Olympiad opened in grand style at the National Stadium in Beijing. The city lost the race to host the 2000 Games to Sydney, but subsequently won the bidding for 2008. The success of the event thrust China into the world's spotlight once again, and promoted greater understanding of the country among members of the international community.
On April 29, 2005 General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Hu Jintao met with visiting Kuomintang Chairman Lien Chan in Beijing, the first contact between leaders of the two rival parties in 60 years. Ensuing exchanges between the two sides have since boosted the peaceful development of the relationship between the mainland and Taiwan.
President Jiang Zemin delivered a speech at the celebration for the 20th anniversary of the founding of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone on November 14, 2000. He said that the success of SEZs and Pudong New District epitomized and attested the achievements China had made in its historical transition.
At 0:00 on December 20, 1999 the Chinese government resumed its exercise of sovereignty over Macao. The region was occupied by the Portuguese for four centuries before its return to China. Its retrieval marked the eradication of the last remnants of colonialism and imperialism from Chinese territory.
At 0:00 on July 1, 1997 the Chinese government resumed its exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong. Defeated in the two Opium Wars, the Qing government was forced to cede Hong Kong to the UK. Bringing the enclave back to the bosom of the motherland had been the dream of the Chinese people since that dark historical chapter.
China and the U.S. formally established full diplomatic relations on January 1, 1979, a move that has had far-reaching significance. The two countries are now the world’s two largest economies, and their relationship is one of the most important bilateral ties globally. Earlier this year the two leaderships agreed to build a new type of major power relationship. The fifth round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue concluded in Washington last July.
The Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, held in December 1978, passed resolutions to shift the focus of the party’s work to building a modern country and commencing policies of opening-up and reform.
Premier Zhou Enlai set forth the goal of “Four Modernizations” – the modernization of industry, agriculture, national defense and science and technology, in 1975. In 2012 these were expanded to include “new-type industrialization, informatization, urbanization and agricultural modernization.”
China’s legitimate seat in the United Nations was restored on October 25, 1971. This enables China to play a key role in safeguarding world peace and security, advancing international cooperation and championing the wellbeing of all mankind.
China successfully detonated its first atomic bomb on October 16, 1964, and its first hydrogen bomb in 1967. It sent its first satellite into the space in 1970.
The People's Republic of China was founded on October 1, 1949, 28 years after the creation of the Communist Party of China. The date marks a turning point in Chinese history – the country, after a century of tribulations and humiliation, finally achieved independence and found a sense of dignity. Since then, it has embarked on a path of sustained and robust growth. China is now the world's second largest economy and member of numerous major international organizations. The dream of rejuvenating China is coming true.
On July 7, 1937 Japanese troops fired at Chinese soldiers at Lugou Bridge and bombed Wanping City, in a suburb of Beijing. The incident marked the beginning of an all-out invasion of China by Japan. Before that point Japanese forces had seized northeastern China in 1931 and besieged Peiping (Beijing) from the east, west and north. After 14 years of resistance China eventually won the war against Japanese invasion in 1945, playing a crucial role in the world's efforts to fight Fascism.
The 1911 Revolution headed by Dr. Sun Yat-sen overthrew the Qing Dynasty, leading to the founding of a republic and ending 2,000 years of feudal rule. Sun championed the rejuvenation of China, a goal that still inspires Chinese people today.
The UK initiated the first Opium War in June 1840. Opium was smuggled in large volumes into China by British merchants in the early 19th century, creating distortions in the bilateral trade between the two nations and bringing addiction along with it. In response the Qing government imposed a ban on trade in the narcotic. The UK seized this as an excuse to send warships to China, heralding decades of national nightmares that preluded Chinese dreams.
The UK sent its first envoy George Macartney to China for Qing Emperor Qianlong's birthday celebration in 1793. The occasion marked the first official contact between the two empires. Britain had emerged from the industrial revolution as a world power at the time, while the Qing regime remained complacent and insular.