BEIJING -- The past decade marked three major events of great immediate importance and profound historical significance for the cause of the Party and the people, Xi Jinping said on Sunday.

"We embraced the centenary of the Communist Party of China; we ushered in a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and we eradicated absolute poverty and finished building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, thus completing the First Centenary Goal," said Xi at the opening session of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

These were historic feats -- feats accomplished by the CPC and the Chinese people striving in unity, feats that will be forever recorded in the Chinese nation's history, and feats that will profoundly influence the world, he said.