President Hu Jintao
and other leaders said Thursday that China is at a pivotal stage of
reform and development, and a new concept is required to promote
coordinated social and economic growth and harmonious development
of human and nature.
Noting that China is confronted with numerous, unavoidable
issues that call for urgent resolution, President Hu said that
persistent efforts must be made to seek truth from facts and to
keep pace with the times, especially to implement the strategic
concept that "development is the overriding principle" as advocated
by late senior leader Deng Xiaoping.
The Chinese president made these remarks to members of the
National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference (CPPCC),
a broad-based national advisory body, on the site of its ongoing
annual session from March 3 to 12.
Hu and other leaders, including Wu
Bangguo, chairman of the country's top legislature, Premier Wen
Jiabao and Vice President Zeng
Qinghong, exchanged views in panel discussions on Thursday with
different groups of National Committee members.
Hu acknowledged that efforts must be made to strengthen and
consolidate the economy of public ownership and at the same time to
encourage, support and guide non-public sector economies.
Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC)
Central Committee, said that it is essential to bear in mind and
implement the scientific concept of development.
Moreover, he said, China must adhere to the strategies of making
overall plans and taking into account rural and urban development,
regional development, economic and social growth, harmonious
development of human and nature, and domestic construction and
opening to the outside world.
Premier Wen Jiabao said China is at a critical juncture of
economic development.
"We should, by taking advantage of this crucial strategic
period, do a good job of guiding, protecting and giving full scope
to the enthusiasms of all sides in accelerating the pace of
development."
China should pay close attention to macro-economic regulation,
employing appropriate and effective measures, Wen told members of
CPPCC National Committee representing economic and agricultural
sectors.
Wen said he is convinced that China will overcome various
difficulties and hardships and promote and carry forward the
current strengths as long as "we are a sober-minded and do things
in line with the objective law."
Vice President Zeng Qinghong said advancing social and economic
development is of vital importance, and the primary objective of
various non-Communist parties participating in state affairs is
precisely to promote the country's development.
The vice president called on non-Communist parties, which are
represented in the CPPCC, to continue offering their proposals to
help the Chinese government further improve its administration of
the country.
(People's Daily March 5, 2004)