China should develop the broadest and most compatible united front in history and continue solidifying its alliance with all workers and patriots, President Hu Jintao said on Wednesday.

Consolidating and expanding the united front must be a key task of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in improving its governance, said Hu at a national conference on united front work held from July 10 to 12.

It is also a key task to build a socialist society with Chinese characteristics and to strengthen the cohesiveness of the nation, said Hu, who is also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

Relations -- such as those between the CPC and non-Communist parties, between the Han nationality and ethnic minorities, between religious and non-religious people as well as among the different faiths, between different social classes and between the mainland and Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas compatriots -- must be understood and handled properly.

Multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC is the key to long-term harmony among parties.

Equality, solidarity, mutual assistance and harmony among all nationalities are fundamental in dealing with ethnic relations.

The policy of freedom of religious belief must be comprehensively implemented so as to achieve consensus with religious groups on major issues regarding the leadership of the CPC, the socialist system, national unification and social harmony, Hu added.

Newly emerged social classes should be respected and united and be guided to the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan should be enhanced. The interests of overseas Chinese should be guaranteed to raise their pride and love for the motherland, he said.

Finally, Hu stressed that the CPC's leadership of this united front was the fundamental assurance of its future development and should be further strengthened and improved.

(Xinhua News Agency July 13, 2006)