Xi offers Youth Day greetings

President commends young people for response to Party's call, COVID-19 fight

President Xi Jinping encouraged China's young people to foster stronger ideals and convictions, build up their capabilities and devote themselves to the course of national development as he greeted youth in a message published on Sunday.

The greetings by Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, came ahead of Youth Day, which falls on May 4.

In the message, Xi commended young people across the nation for their active response to the Party's call and in the people's war against the COVID-19 pandemic despite all the difficulties and dangers.

Their sincerity and dedication showed the keen sense of responsibility among Chinese youth today and won a high level of recognition from the Party and the people, he said.

Xi said this is the critical year for China to eradicate absolute poverty and build a moderately prosperous society in all respects. It is also a year in which the time frames of China's Two Centenary Goals converge.

He called upon Chinese youth to inherit and give play to the May Fourth spirit in the new era, stand firmly with the people, always maintain a progressive stance and press ahead bravely in the long march of realizing the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.