Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Wednesday extended Spring Festival greetings to military veterans. As a festive art performance was held for the veterans and ex-officers in Beijing, Xi, also chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission (CMC), attended the gathering and expressed his best wishes to the participants. The veterans expressed their appreciation for the achievements China has made over the last year and said they will carefully study the spirit of the 18th CPC National Congress. This year's Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, falls on Feb. 10.