China to continue peaceful development - President

CHINA: In his New Year's address broadcast Monday, Chinese President Hu Jintao said China will forge ahead with reform and opening up as well as its drive for modernization in 2013. Wishing Chinese and people across the world a happy new year, he said under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Xi Jinping as General Secretary, the country's people are forging ahead towards completing the building of a moderately prosperous society.

Remarkable achievements have been made in China's reform and opening up as well as its strive for modernization in 2012, a year that carried high and profound significance in the overall course of the country's development, Hu said. The 18th CPC National Congress and the first plenum of the 18th CPC Central Committee held in November outlined a blueprint for China to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society and deepen reform and opening up, he said.

The events also featured a smooth change of the central leadership of the CPC, according to Hu's address, which was delivered via state television and radio stations. Hu said China will continue to transform its economic development pattern as well as pursue progress while ensuring stability in 2013. The country aims to make a “good start” in the new year in achieving development goals outlined during the 18th National Congress of the CPC, he said.

China will stick to the guidelines of “one country, two systems,” “Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong,” and “Macao people governing Macao,” with a high degree of autonomy, thus facilitating the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, Hu said.

“We will continue to promote the peaceful development of mainland-Taiwan ties, bring benefit to compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and guard the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation,” he said.

XINHUA