Chinese President Hu Jintao eulogized Thursday the nationwide reform adopted by the Communist Party of China (CPC) for the past three decades.

President Hu Jintao said on Thursday that China must continue the reform and opening-up drive, which in the past 30 years turned the once poverty-stricken country into one of the world's largest economies.

Hu said China's significant changes over the past 30 years have proved that the direction and path of reform and opening-up are "completely correct".

Given the current world situation, especially the escalation and spread of the international financial crisis, China must continue to firmly focus on economic development, Hu said.

"Standing still and regressing will lead only to a dead end," Hu told an audience of more than 6,000, including top Chinese leaders.

The meeting, which started at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing at 10:00 a.m, was held to mark the 30th anniversary of the holding of the 3rd plenary session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, which spearheaded the reform and opening-up drive in 1978.

Leaders including Jiang Zemin, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang attended the meeting.

Economic reforms began 30 years ago after the 10-year Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), which left the country on the verge of economic breakdown.

The decision to open up the once-secluded country and reform its moribund economy was made at the 3rd plenary session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Dec. 18, 1978, which was masterminded by Deng Xiaoping and his comrades. Deng himself was then called the chief architect of the reform and opening up drive.

Hu said the meeting 30 years ago ushered in a new historic period of reform and opening-up, marking the most significant turning point in the Party's history since the New China was founded in 1949.

By gathering to commemorate the 30th anniversary of that meeting, Hu said the intention was to fully recognize the significance and great achievements of the reforms, sum up experience, and continue to develop the country on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.