Chinese President Hu Jintao Wednesday called for efforts to build a world of peace and prosperity in his New Year's address.  

In his address, broadcast Wednesday evening by China Radio International, Chinese Central Radio Station and China Central Television Station, Hu extended New Year greetings to Chinese people of all ethnic groups, including those in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and overseas Chinese, as well as friends from all other countries.

Hu said the year 2003 was of unusual significance for the Chinese people.

Guided by Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents," Chinese people of all ethnic groups, united as one, had conquered the difficulties and challenges brought about by the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic and natural disasters including earthquakes, floods and droughts.

It was also a year in which China pressed ahead with its reforms and opening-up and the socialist modernization drive, Hu said. The country continued to register fairly rapid growth in economy and maintained a momentum for the all-round development of various social causes, he said.

In 2003, China adhered to its independent foreign policy of peace, said Hu. Upholding the banner of peace, development and cooperation and persisting in building a good-neighborly relationship and partnership with its neighbors, China had contributed to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development in the year, the president said.

The year 2004 would be crucial for the Chinese people in carrying out the tasks set by the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the nation's 10th Five-Year Plan, the president said.

Hu said China would maintain all-round, coordinated and sustainable development in the new year while taking economic development as the central task.

The country would deepen its reforms and open further and maintain sustainable, coordinated and healthy development of its economy, he said.

By adhering to the principles of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong," "Macao people governing Macao" and a high degree of autonomy, China would strengthen economic and trade ties between the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao to maintain long-term prosperity and stability of the two special administrative regions, Hu said.

Hu expressed great care for the interests and well-being of the 23 million compatriots in Taiwan.

He said China would adhere to basic principles of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems," and the eight-point proposal on developing cross-straits relations and advancing the process of peaceful national reunification at the present stage to step up personnel exchanges and promote economic, cultural and other interflows across the straits.

"With the greatest sincerity, we will do our best to realize the peaceful reunification of the motherland," said Hu.

"We are resolutely opposed to splittist activities in any form for 'Taiwan independence' and will never allow anybody to separate Taiwan from China in any way," stressed Hu.

The Chinese people had always been concerned and showed sympathy for those people in the world, who were suffering from war, hunger and poverty, and sincerely hoped they could enjoy a peaceful and happy life at an early date, said the president. He said the Chinese people were willing to offer aid within their capability.

The world needs peace and all the people in the world need cooperation; nations need development and society needs progress. This is an irresistible trend of the times, said Hu.

China, as always, would support just causes of mankind, Hu said. China would work together with people of all countries to promote world peace and development and build a peaceful and prosperous world, he said.

"We firmly believe mankind will have a bright future for development," said the president.

(Xinhua News Agency January 1, 2004)