—New Year Speech By Chinese President Hu Jintao

On the eve of the New Year 2007, Chinese President Hu Jintao delivered a speech entitled "Compose a New Chapter of Peace, Development and Cooperation Together" via China Radio International, China National Radio and China Central Television. The full speech is as follows:

The bell is ringing in the New Year 2007. At this key moment as we pass from one year to the next, I'm very happy to extend New Year greetings to all Chinese people,  including our compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, all the overseas Chinese, and our friends all over the world, in this message broadcast on China Radio International, China National Radio and China Central Television.

2006 was the first year of China's 11th Five-Year Plan. During the year, the Chinese people of all ethnic groups united with one mind and worked hard to push forward socialist economic, political, cultural and social constructions. China made new achievements in national economic and social development and the Chinese people's living standards were further improved. China has taken another solid step towards the goal of building a well-off society in an all-round way. At the same time, China has conducted all-directional exchanges and cooperation with foreign countries and widely participated in bilateral and multilateral affairs of the world. China has actively given impetus to processes resolving hot and difficult international issues, and contributed to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

At the recent Sixth Plenum of the 16th CPC Central Committee, a basic plan for building a harmonious socialist society was drafted. The Chinese people of all ethnic groups are creating a happier life and brighter future through their industrious work and wisdom.

2007 is an important year for the Chinese people to fully implement the scientific concept of development and accelerate the pace of building a harmonious socialist society. Bearing the need for efficient social and economic development in mind, we will focus on adjusting the economic structure and change our mode of growth. We will also work harder to save energy and protect the environment, while strengthening reform and promoting innovation. We will painstakingly boost social development and care for people's well being, while pushing economic and social development into the orbit of scientific development.

We will adhere to the principles of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and "Macao people governing Macao" with a high degree of autonomy. We will support the governments of Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and their chief executives to rule according to law. We will also expand the mainland's communication and cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao, in a joint effort to ensure the long-term prosperity and stability of both regions. We will also adhere to the basic principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems." We will enhance cross-strait personnel exchange, and economic and cultural cooperation, in the context of peaceful development, to ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and push forward the peaceful reunification of China.

At present, the international situation is undergoing profound and complicated changes, with deepening multi-polarization, steady economic growth, increasing interdependency, greater cooperation and new opportunities to safeguard world peace and promote common development. At the same time, sporadic regional wars and conflicts, the widening gap between developed and developing countries and the growing prominence of global issues—like terrorism, transnational crime, environmental protection, natural disasters and highly communicable diseases—pose new challenges to world peace and common development.

Against this backdrop of coexisting opportunities and challenges, the Chinese people sincerely hope to carry out mutually beneficial cooperation and live in harmony with people across the world to jointly promote peace, development and cooperation as the major theme of our time.

I would like to avail myself of this occasion to reiterate that China's diplomatic efforts are based on safeguarding world peace and promoting common development. The Chinese people will unswervingly pursue peaceful development and a mutually beneficial and win-win opening strategy. We will enhance economic and cultural cooperation with other countries to jointly promote multilateralism, and the democratization of international relations. We will also work to safeguard the diversity of the world and its development models, and make sure that economic globalization will move in a direction that is conducive to building a harmonious world based on long-term peace and common prosperity.

In the present-day world, people in many countries and regions are still suffering from the scourge of wars, poverty and disease. The Chinese people are deeply sympathetic to their plight and willing to extend all the assistance our country can summon.

We sincerely wish all their miseries would end as soon as possible, so the people of the world can enjoy the fruits of peace and development together.

And last, but not least, from Beijing, I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

(China.org.cn)