China hails 2019 as a 'critical year' to realize Xi's goals

BEIJING -- Chinese lawmakers on Sunday began the first of the nation's two biggest legislative meetings with a rallying call to achieve the goals set by the leadership.

"This year is a critical year for us in completing the [goal] of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020," said Wang Yang, chair of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, or CPPCC -- the country's foremost political advisory body.