Xi stresses reform for new year

Party and nation to pursue progress, maintain stability, president says

President Xi Jinping on Friday stressed the importance of reform in 2018, when China will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the start of the reform and opening-up policy.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing a New Year's gathering held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body, in Beijing.