Xi Jinping hails 'new era' for China

The Chinese President and General Secretary of the Communist Party Xi Jinping says China has entered "a new era" and is ready to take centre stage in the world. Speaking in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, at the start of the week-long 19th party congress, Mr Xi told delegates they should "strive with endless energy toward the great goal of national rejuvenation". He said China would not copy western countries' political systems and the model of what he called "socialism with Chinese characteristics" offers an alternative to the developing world. The Washington Post's Beijing correspondent Simon Denyer was at the congress for the declaration of a new era.