President Xi Jinping on Friday stressed the importance of reform in 2018, when China will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the start of the reform and opening-up policy.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing a New Year's gathering held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body, in Beijing.

In his speech, Xi said the spirit of the CPC's 19th National Congress should be comprehensively implemented.

The Party and government should uphold the guidance of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, stick to the basic principle of pursuing progress while maintaining stability and promote sustainable and healthy social development, he said.

The president called for practical efforts to celebrate the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up next year and pledged to adhere to the path of reform and opening-up.

Xi pledged to continue to implement the policies of "one country, two systems", and "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and "Macao people governing Macao" with a high degree of autonomy, to maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of the two special administrative regions.

"We should continue to stick to the one-China policy, push peaceful development of the cross-Straits relationship on the basis of the 1992 Consensus, and oppose all kinds of activities of separating the country," he said.

China will stick to the path of peaceful development and push forward the building of a peaceful, safe, prosperous, inclusive and beautiful world to help people of the globe enjoy the fruits of human civilization, Xi said.