Chinese Party and State leaders Jiang Zemin, Li Peng, Li Ruihuan, Hu Jintao, Wei Jianxing and Li Lanqing, and over 1,000 people representing various walks of life and guests from across the world attended the reception hosted by the State Council.

Zhu said that since the People's Republic of China was founded 52 years ago, the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), have worked as one and achieved splendid successes in all areas.

He said that the CPC celebrated its 80th anniversary on July 1, and Jiang Zemin, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, made an important speech. The people all over the country are now earnestly studying and implementing it and are courageously marching forward, determined to make China an even better country to live in, he said.

The premier said that since the beginning of this year China has made progress in reforms and development. Facts show that the plans for this year's work made by the CPC Central Committee with Jiang as its core are definitely correct, he said.

Zhu stressed that China will, under the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory, implement what is required by the "Three Represent's" and the spirit of The Sixth Plenary Session of the 15th CPC Central Committee, so as to accomplish all tasks set for this year.

Speaking of Hong Kong and Macao, Zhu said that the guidelines such as "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong," "Macao people administering Macao," a high degree of autonomy and the basic laws of Hong Kong and Macao have been put into effect since China resumed its exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong and Macao.

He said that the central government will continue to support the government of the HK Special Administrative Region (SAR) headed by Tung Chee Hwa, and that of the Macao SAR headed by Edmund Ho Hau Wah, promote the economic exchange between the interior region and Hong Kong and Macao and maintain the long-term stability and prosperity in Hong Kong and Macao.

On the Taiwan issue, Zhu said that it is the shared aspiration of the entire Chinese people to achieve the complete reunification of motherland, and China will continue to carry out the basic policy of "peaceful reunification, and one country, two systems," and the Eight-Point Proposals put forward by President Jiang Zemin to promote the process of peaceful reunification.

He said that China has the confidence and capability to stop all schemes aimed at splitting China.

The premier said that the Chinese government has consistently pursued an independent foreign policy of peace, and is ready to cooperate with all nations in the world on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence.

China also opposes hegemonism and power politics, and stands for building a just and rational new international political and economic order, he added.

Zhu said that terrorism has become a serious global scourge, and the Chinese government firmly opposes all forms of terrorist activities.

He said that China will work with the people of all countries to establish a beautiful world with lasting peace and prosperity.

(Xinhua News Agency 09/30/2001)