President Xi Jinping called on Friday for the China Zhi Gong Party to widely unite overseas Chinese, returned overseas Chinese and their relatives, and Chinese students studying abroad to make new and greater contributions to the building of a strong country and national rejuvenation.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a congratulatory message on centenary of the founding of the China Zhi Gong Party, one of the non-Communist parties participating in the governance of State affairs under the leadership of the CPC.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi extended warm congratulations and sincere greetings to all members of the party.

As the earliest-founded among China's non-Communist parties, the China Zhi Gong Party has always stood together with the CPC through thick and thin, and made active efforts in China's revolution, construction and reform, he said.

It has contributed its wisdom and strength to the nation's struggles for independence, liberation, prosperity, and the well-being of its people, he added.

Xi expressed the hope that on the new journey ahead, the China Zhi Gong Party would continue to uphold the leadership of the CPC, remain committed to its mission to cooperate with the CPC, carry on its fine traditions, strengthen its own development, and actively serve the great cause of national reunification.

Xi's congratulatory message was conveyed at a conference in Beijing in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the China Zhi Gong Party.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attended the event.

He said that Xi's congratulatory message fully demonstrates the CPC Central Committee's high regard for the development of political parties participating in national governance under socialism with Chinese characteristics.

It is of guiding significance in upholding, developing, and improving China's new type of political party system as well as advancing the development of multi-party cooperation in the new era, he added.

Wang urged the China Zhi Gong Party to widely gather public support, build greater consensus, and pool wisdom and strength for the nation's efforts to promote Chinese modernization.