As China's Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year which falls on Jan. 29, draws near, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao paid special visits to three senior non-CPC personages in Beijing on Jan. 22 to extend to them festival 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 basketful of blooming fresh flowers.

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

Wen called Lei a sincere friend, a helpful friend and a friend 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," said Lei.

"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 close together."

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

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

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 in the minority of the entire Chinese population," said Wen. "We will continue to train large numbers of non-CPC cadres that have both ability and political integrity. That's the requirement of the development of our causes."

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. Sun's suggestion has played an important role in the inclusion of the phrase in the constitution.

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

Wen visited Jing Shuping in hospital, presented him with a basket of fruits and asked about Jing's health and life.

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 during the primary stage 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," said Wen.

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

Wen wished Jing an early recovery. Jing took hold of Wen's hands, wishing the premier a happy Spring Festival.

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)