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 and interactions among our ethnic groups to strengthen the foundations and bonds of the Chinese national community.

We will fully implement the Party's basic policy on religious affairs, uphold the principle that religions in China must be Chinese in orientation, promote harmony between religions, and encourage religious leaders and believers to actively involve themselves in promoting economic and social development.

We will fully implement policies related to overseas Chinese nationals, protect the legal rights and interests of overseas Chinese nationals, Chinese nationals who have returned from overseas, and relatives of overseas Chinese nationals residing in China. We will create better conditions for them to use their unique strengths and play their important roles in our country's modernization. We encourage all Chinese, both at home and overseas, to work together with one heart and achieve together great things.

Fellow Deputies,

Faced with profound changes in the national security environment, we must treat the Party's goal of building stronger armed forces for the new era as our guide, and firmly uphold the guiding position of Xi Jinping's thinking on strengthening the armed forces as we develop national defense and the armed forces. We will stick to the Chinese path in strengthening our armed forces, advance all aspects of military training and war preparedness, and firmly and resolvedly safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests.

The fundamental principle and system of absolute leadership by the Party over the armed forces must be observed, and the system of the Chairman of the Central Military Commission assuming full responsibility for military affairs will be fully enforced.

We will continue to reform national defense and the armed forces, and build strong and solid modernized border, coastal, and air defense. We will improve our national defense mobilization system and strengthen public awareness about national defense. We will further implement the strategy for military-civilian integration and deepen reform of defense-related science, technology, and industry.

We, at every level of government, must take more effective measures to support the development and reform of our national defense and armed forces, so that the unity between government and the military and between the people and the military is always strong as stone, and deeply rooted as an evergreen.