Xi urges stronger Chinese stand against ‘grim’ challenges

Hospitality staff pose for a photograph in the rain in front of a giant basket decorated with replicas of flowers and fruits on display on Tiananmen Square during the opening ceremony of the 19th Party Congress in Beijing, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged a reinvigorated 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. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)