Joining panel discussions of deputies from Hubei and Jilin provinces at the ongoing first session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, Wednesday, President Jiang said: "We must constantly make new discoveries, new inventions and new creations in the new stage of development in the new century."

Jiang repeated his call for blazing a new trail in industrialization while earnestly implementing the strategy of rejuvenating the nation and realizing a sustainable development by relying on the advancement of science and technology.

He stressed the necessity of giving priority to the development of agriculture and the rural economy and the well-being of farmers.

He called for more attention to institutional construction and innovation on the basis of summing up successful experience of reform and economic development, which, he said, is of vital importance in securing prosperity and long-term stability of the country.

The Chinese President also expressed confidence that as long as the entire Party and all Chinese people closely rally round the Party Central Committee with Hu Jintao as its general secretary, work hard in a down-to-earth manner and live simply, socialism with Chinese characteristics would develop faster and better.

(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2003)