Premier Wen Jiabao paid special Chinese Lunar New Year visits to three senior non-CPC compatriots in Beijing on January 22 to extend festive greetings.

 

Wen, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, came to the home of the 101-year-old Lei Jieqiong with a basket of fresh flowers.

 

"You're a good friend of our party. The party and people have not forgotten you," Wen told Lei, now honorary chairman of the Central Committee of China Association for Promoting Democracy.

 

Wen called Lei a sincere and helpful friend, and someone who gives forthright opinions to the CPC.

 

Wen said that despite numerous achievements made in economic and social development, China still faces many difficulties and problems ahead.

 

"It's not easy," Lei said.

 

"It's true," Wen said. "It's not easy for our party, for the non-Communist parties and also for the people. We should stand and work together."

 

"I wish our motherland a better future," Lei said, as Wen was leaving.

 

Wen then visited Sun Qimeng, honorary chairman of the Central Committee of the China Democratic National Construction Association, in hospital and presented him with a basket of fresh flowers.

 

Wen said Sun has played an important role in promoting the multi-party cooperation system under the leadership of the CPC and in promoting development of China's vocational education.

 

"No matter how big the CPC becomes, CPC members will remain the minority of the entire Chinese population," Wen said. "We will continue to train large numbers of non-CPC cadres who have both ability and political integrity. That's the requirement of the development of our cause."

 

Wen said the phrase "the long-term existence and development of the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation system under the leadership of the CPC," which was proposed by Sun, has been written into the constitution.

 

Wen also told Sun that the government will spend 10 billion yuan (about US$1.24 billion) to develop vocational education over the next five years to meet the needs of upgrading the industrial structure and employment of rural workers in cities.

 

Wen also visited Jing Shuping in hospital, presenting him with a basket of fruits.

 

Wen shook hands with Jing, chairman of the board of directors of the China Minsheng Banking Corp. Ltd, and said: "You've done a lot of helpful work for the country."

 

He said it is China's basic economic system in the primary stages of socialism to keep public ownership as the mainstay and to have diverse forms of ownership develop side by side.

 

"This policy will not change," Wen said.

 

"We see more and more clearly that actively developing non-public sectors of the economy are helpful to the prosperity of urban and rural economies, expanding employment and advancing economic growth," he said.

 

Liu Yandong, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the United Front Work Department of CPC Central Committee, accompanied Wen during the visits.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2006)