BEIJING, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The reform and opening-up is a great revolution in the history of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, said President Xi Jinping at a gathering celebrating the 40th anniversary of the landmark drive on Tuesday.

It is the great revolution that propelled a quantum leap forward in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Xi said while addressing the meeting.

Xi also said the reform and opening-up is a great reawakening of the Communist Party of China (CPC), nurturing great creativity in both theory and practice for the CPC.