Profile: Xi Jinping: Pursuing dream for 1.3 billion Chinese(2)

Being the general secretary, Xi conducted his first inspection tour to southern Guangdong Province, a pioneer in China's reform and opening up more than three decades ago.

Many interpreted the move as a strong sign to continue the country's reform and opening-up drive.

To bring the "Chinese dream" to fruition, the country needs to continue its reform and opening-up drive, a point Xi reiterated during his trip to Guangdong and in group studies conducted for the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

"We'll never stop reform and opening up," Xi said. "We must waste no time in deepening reforms in key areas."

Some of the reforms China needs to carry out include transforming government functions and streamlining the administrative system.

At the second plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee held in February, Xi stressed that the government should figure out what it should do and not do in changing its functions.

Different roles and responsibilities of the government, the market and the society should be clearly defined, but the service of the government to the people should never change, Xi said.

Sustainable, high-quality economic growth is also imperative for the "Chinese dream," as China is now the world's second-largest economy.

"Future growth must be tangible and not exaggerated," Xi said. "It should be sustainable with good performance and good quality."

He urged accelerating the adjustment of China's economic structure and the transformation of its mode of economic development, adding that the country must implement an innovation-driven strategy for future development that focuses on growth quality and performance.

As chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, Xi said a strong military is needed for the great renewal of the Chinese nation. He has demonstrated his strategic thinking on how to consolidate national defense and build strong armed forces.

For the past four months, Xi has inspected the army, navy, air force, second artillery corps and armed police, boarding warships and combat vehicles.

During an inspection tour to the Guangzhou Military Theater of Operations in December, Xi emphasized that soldiers must be loyal to the CPC and abide by the law.

"The armed forces need to be ready to assemble at the first call of the CPC and be capable of fighting and winning any battle," Xi said while inspecting the Lanzhou Military Area.

While vowing to never allow the country's national sovereignty, security and development interests to be infringed upon, Xi reiterated that China will always remain a staunch force in upholding world peace, as the nation suffered from wars in the past.

"We will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion," he said.