On the occasion of the International Labor Day on Friday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited workers at a metro construction site in Beijing, extending festival greetings and encouraging them to "strengthen confidence to overcome difficulties brought about by the financial crisis and the influenza epidemic."

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd L) talks with workers as he visits a construction site of Beijing subway in Beijing, capital of China, May 1, 2009. Wen expressed his best regards to the workers here.

Wen told the workers that this year is a very difficult one for China as the country is hit hard by a global financial crisis.

He added the recent outbreak of H1N1 influenza epidemic (swine flu) in some countries has affected China's economic and social development.

The premier said any difficulty can be overcome as long as people have firm confidence and there is strong leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and the government.