BEIJING -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said Thursday that the Party must uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Xi said as we have upheld and developed socialism with Chinese characteristics and driven coordinated progress in material, political, cultural-ethical, social, and ecological terms, we have pioneered a new and uniquely Chinese path to modernization, and created a new model for human civilization.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a ceremony marking the centenary of the CPC.