Chinese President Hu Jintao Wednesday called for efforts to
build a world of peace and prosperity in his New Year's
address.?
In his address, broadcast Wednesday evening by China Radio
International, Chinese Central Radio Station and China Central
Television Station, Hu extended New Year greetings to Chinese
people of all ethnic groups, including those in Hong Kong, Macao
and Taiwan and overseas Chinese, as well as friends from all other
countries.
Hu said the year 2003 was of unusual significance for the
Chinese people.
Guided by Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of
"Three Represents," Chinese people of all ethnic groups, united as
one, had conquered the difficulties and challenges brought about by
the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic and natural
disasters including earthquakes, floods and droughts.
It was also a year in which China pressed ahead with its reforms
and opening-up and the socialist modernization drive, Hu said. The
country continued to register fairly rapid growth in economy and
maintained a momentum for the all-round development of various
social causes, he said.
In 2003, China adhered to its independent foreign policy of
peace, said Hu. Upholding the banner of peace, development and
cooperation and persisting in building a good-neighborly
relationship and partnership with its neighbors, China had
contributed to safeguarding world peace and promoting common
development in the year, the president said.
The year 2004 would be crucial for the Chinese people in
carrying out the tasks set by the 16th National Congress of the
Communist Party of China and the nation's 10th Five-Year Plan, the
president said.
Hu said China would maintain all-round, coordinated and
sustainable development in the new year while taking economic
development as the central task.
The country would deepen its reforms and open further and
maintain sustainable, coordinated and healthy development of its
economy, he said.
By adhering to the principles of "one country, two systems,"
"Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong," "Macao people governing
Macao" and a high degree of autonomy, China would strengthen
economic and trade ties between the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao
to maintain long-term prosperity and stability of the two special
administrative regions, Hu said.
Hu expressed great care for the interests and well-being of the
23 million compatriots in Taiwan.
He said China would adhere to basic principles of "peaceful
reunification" and "one country, two systems," and the eight-point
proposal on developing cross-straits relations and advancing the
process of peaceful national reunification at the present stage to
step up personnel exchanges and promote economic, cultural and
other interflows across the straits.
"With the greatest sincerity, we will do our best to realize the
peaceful reunification of the motherland," said Hu.
"We are resolutely opposed to splittist activities in any form
for 'Taiwan independence' and will never allow anybody to separate
Taiwan from China in any way," stressed Hu.
The Chinese people had always been concerned and showed sympathy
for those people in the world, who were suffering from war, hunger
and poverty, and sincerely hoped they could enjoy a peaceful and
happy life at an early date, said the president. He said the
Chinese people were willing to offer aid within their
capability.
The world needs peace and all the people in the world need
cooperation; nations need development and society needs progress.
This is an irresistible trend of the times, said Hu.
China, as always, would support just causes of mankind, Hu said.
China would work together with people of all countries to promote
world peace and development and build a peaceful and prosperous
world, he said.
"We firmly believe mankind will have a bright future for
development," said the president.
(Xinhua News Agency January 1, 2004)