Story highlights Xi trumpets China's accomplishments in landmark speech

Week-long meeting will unveil new generation of Chinese leaders

Beijing (CNN) Chinese President Xi Jinping laid out a sweeping vision for the country Wednesday as he kicked off a pivotal meeting of the ruling elite that's expected to shore up his grip on power.

China's President called the progress China had made under his watch "truly remarkable" but said more needed to be done as the country moves toward a goal of "national rejuvenation" -- a phrase he used repeatedly during the more than three-hour speech.

"Our party, our people, our forces, and our nation have changed in ways without precedent," he said from the Great Hall of the People in the heart of Beijing on the opening day of the weeklong meeting.

But Xi made it clear that China's future path wouldn't emulate the West, saying he wouldn't "mechanically copy the political systems of other countries."

"No one should expect China to swallow anything that undermines its interests," Xi said.