Premier Wen Jiabao said Friday that China must adhere to its three-decade-old policy of reform and opening-up in order to develop itself into a prosperous, democratic, civilized, harmonious and modernized nation.

Wen made the remarks at a press conference held following the conclusion of an annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature.

"We must hold a belief unswervingly: we are surly able to develop China into a prosperous, democratic, civilized, harmonious and modernized nation, as long as we emancipate our mind, keep abreast with the times, and seek truth; as long as we keep reforming and opening up; as long as we adhere to peaceful development, scientific development and harmonious development," he said.

"The current government has worked for four years, which told us that we must be aware of a truth: all power is given by the people, everything belongs to the people, everything should be for the people, everything must rely on people and everything owes to the people," he said.

"The staff members of the government don't have any power except working as good public servants for its people," the premier said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2007)