Chinese Party and Government leaders Jiang Zemin, Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, Li Ruihuan, Hu Jintao, Wei Jianxing and Li Lanqing, as well as more than 1,000 celebrities from all walks of life and guests from around the world attended the reception hosted by the State Council.

On behalf of the Party Central Committee and the State Council,Premier Zhu Rongji extended festival greetings to the people of all ethnic groups across China, cordial regards to the compatriots in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan, and those residing abroad, and expressed thanks to all international friends who are concerned with and have supported China's reform, opening-up and modernization construction.

Premier Zhu said that over the past 53 years, and especially after China's reform and opening-up strategy over two decades ago, the people of all ethnic groups, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), have worked hard with a firm will and brought earth-shaking changes to the country. The nation's economic strength has grown tremendously, the people's life has improved remarkably and China's international status has been raising with each passing day, he added.

As the 16th CPC National Congress is drawing near, he noted, the people across the country have managed to overcome various difficulties on their road of advance and accomplished remarkable results in maintaining the growing momentum of national economy, economic restructuring and reform, improving social welfare system and many other fields.

In this first year following its entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), China has also witnessed vigorous development in opening-up and a notable increase in the import and export business and foreign investment.

Practice has shown that the decisions made by the CPC Central Committee, with Party General Secretary Jiang Zemin at the core, are definitely correct, he said, urging that further efforts be made under the guidance of the "Three Represents" theory so as to accomplish all tasks set for this year.

With regard to the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, Zhu noted that China will continue its all-round implementation of the "one country, two systems" cardinal principle and the basic laws for the regions. The central government will continue to support the government of the HKSAR and Macao SAR to promote and maintain the long-term stability and prosperity in Hong Kong and Macao.

On the Taiwan issue, China will also continue to implement the policy of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems" and the eight-point proposal set forth by President Jiang Zemin for the early reunification of the motherland. Zhu pledged that any scheme to break away the country is doomed to failure and expressed his conviction that the full reunification of the motherland will be accomplished at an early date with the concerted efforts of the entire Chinese people.

Meanwhile, Zhu stressed that China will unswervingly pursue an independent foreign policy of peace and, on the basis of the "five principles of peaceful co-existence," conduct friendly exchanges, strengthen cooperation with all countries and strive to maintain world peace and common progress.

Moreover, he said, the Chinese people will work unswervingly along with people of all countries to combat hegemonism and power politics, oppose all forms of terrorism, and make unremitting efforts to build a new, just and reasonable international political and economic order, safeguard world peace and promote common development.

The grand reception was presided over by Wang Zhongyu, state councillor and secretary general of the State Council.

(Xinhua News Agency October 1, 2002)