CHINESE president Xi Jinping has urged a re-invigorated Communist Party to take on a more forceful role in society and economic development, to better address “grim” challenges facing the country, as he opened a twice-a-decade national congress.

Speaking in the massive Great Hall of the People near Tiananmen Square in Beijing, Xi laid out his vision of a ruling party that serves as the vanguard on everything from defending national security to providing moral guidance to ordinary Chinese.

He struck a nationalistic line throughout his speech, calling for the party not only to safeguard China’s sovereignty but also to revitalise Chinese culture, oppose “erroneous” ideology and promote religion that is “Chinese in orientation”.

“The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is no walk in the park or mere drum-beating and gong-clanging,” he said.

“The whole party must be prepared to make ever more difficult and harder efforts,” Mr Xi told hundreds of delegates, mostly men in dark suits who applauded regularly as they read copies of his prepared remarks.

“To achieve great dreams there must be a great struggle.”

Hailing the start of a “new era,” Xi outlined a vision in which the party would lead China on the road to becoming a “great modern socialist country” by the middle of the century.