Since the present Constitution of the People's Republic of China
was proclaimed and implemented 20 years ago, it has played a
tremendous role in ensuring stability and guaranteeing social
development, Vice-President Hu Jintao said in Beijing yesterday.
Hu, also the newly elected general secretary of the Communist Party
of China Central Committee, was speaking at a celebration rally to
mark the December 4, 1982 promulgation and implementation of the
revised constitution.
He
said the constitution has been significant for the Party and the
people in building a relatively affluent society and socialism with
Chinese characteristics.
It
is the fundamental law of the country, the basic guideline for
ensuring stability and promoting social development, and the legal
basis for the country's unification, economic development, social
progress and stability, Hu said.
The constitution has guaranteed China's opening-up and socialist
modernization, promoted the country's socialist democracy and human
rights and pushed forward legal construction, stressed Hu.
"The experience of the past two decades tells us the promulgation
of the constitution guarantees the fundamental interests of the
Chinese people, national security and social stability," said
Hu.
He
also noted that opening up to the outside world and the development
of socialist modernization are key points that can be fully
implemented and developed under the constitution.
The 16th Party National Congress set a key target of building a
xiaokang or well-off society in an all-round way -- a major
part of building socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Hu
said building socialism with Chinese characteristics must be based
on economic construction, freedom and the development of the forces
of production.
He
stressed that, in implementing the constitution and developing
socialist democracy, it is necessary to unify the ideas of
following the Party's leadership, building a socialist society in
which the people are the masters, and governing the country in
accordance with the rule of law.
Hu
Jintao called on all Party members and people of all nationalities
to safeguard the dignity of the constitution and ensure its
implementation.
(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2002)