BEIJING, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the eve of the country's 60th National Day celebration Wednesday stressed the importance of national unity, social stability, and maintaining the sustainability and stability of the country's macro economic policy.
The State Council, or Cabinet, held a grand reception at the Great Hall of the People Wednesday evening to mark the founding anniversary of the People's Republic.
China's State Council, or Cabinet, holds a grand reception marking the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Wednesday evening.(Xinhua/Li Tao)
President Hu Jintao and other Communist Party of China (CPC) and state leaders, including Jiang Zemin, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang, attended the reception with more than 4,000 other people.
Addressing the reception, Wen said the world's economic development faced the most severe challenge since last century's Great Depression and China's economy was also seriously hit by the global economic crisis.
By implementing a series of correct policies and measures in a timely manner, China had successfully reversed slowing economic growth, he said.
Wen pledged to maintain the sustainability and stability of the country's macro economic policy to achieve steady and rapid economic development and contribute to global economic recovery.
"State stability, national unity and social harmony serve as a reliable guarantee for the healthy development of all social undertakings," he said.
The government would unswervingly safeguard social stability and the fundamental interests of the people, he said.
The government would stick to its policy of regional ethnic autonomy in minority areas and ethnic and religious policies to reinforce and develop socialist ethnic relations, with equality, unity, mutual-assistance and harmony, Wen said.
It would will firmly implement the "one country, two systems" policy and maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao.
"Together with Taiwan compatriots, we will adhere to the 'one China' principle, strive to open up a new prospect of peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and promote the great cause of national reunification", he said.
The government would pursue an independent foreign policy of peace and unswervingly adhere to a path of peaceful development, and endeavor to promote the construction of a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity, he said.
Wen reviewed China's achievements during the past six decades.
Experiences from the six decades showed China must take economic development as the central task, reform and opening-up as the driving force, and push forward socialist economic, political, cultural, social and ecological civilization construction, he said.
The country must invigorate itself through reform of its economic and political systems as well as in other fields, and by bringing into full play of the people's initiative and creativity, he said.
The country must promote socialist democracy, improve the socialist legal system, implement the strategy of governing the country according to law in a bid to realize long-term social stability, he said.
The country must improve party building, deepen the fight against corruption, and keep close ties between the CPC and the government with the people.
In another 40 years, when New China embraced its 100th founding anniversary, it would be prosperous, democratic and civilized, reflecting harmonious socialist modernization, he said.
However, Wen warned, there was still a long and uneven way ahead. He urged the people to be sober-minded, and proceed with confidence in driving forward the country's development.
Wen extended festive greetings to people of all ethnic groups in China and cordial greetings to compatriots in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, and Taiwan and abroad on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.
Wen also expressed gratitude to foreign friends present and all other international friends who had shown great interest in and rendered their support for China's modernization drive.
Also present at the reception were former senior Chinese officials including Li Peng, Li Ruihuan, Song Ping, Wei Jianxing, Li Lanqing, Zeng Qinghong, Wu Guanzheng and Luo Gan.
