"We have traversed an extraordinary course and scored tremendous achievements in reform, development and stability, domestic and foreign affairs and national defense and in running the Party, state and army," he said.

The five years since the CPC 15th National Congress, Jiang said, have been a period in which China has held high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory and kept blazing new trails in a pioneering spirit, and a period in which the country has continued to forge ahead triumphantly on the road to socialism with Chinese characteristics in spite of difficulties and risks.

During the period, Jiang said, the national economy has maintained a sustained, rapid and sound development, the reform and opening up have yielded substantial results, notable progress has been registered in improving socialist democracy and spiritual civilization, new strides have been taken in strengthening national defense and army building, the people have reached to a well-off standard of living on the whole, fresh progress has been made in the great cause of national reunification, and new prospects have been opened up in the external work.

Jiang said that Party building has been strengthened in an all-round way over the five years.

"All the Party members have steadily intensified their study of Deng Xiaoping Theory. We have put forward and expounded the important thought of Three Represents," he said.

Good results have been produced in the intensive education in the need to stress study, political awareness and integrity and in the study of Three Represents, Jiang said.

An all-out endeavor has been made to build up the Party ideologically, organizationally and in work style, he said, adding that the endeavor to build a clean and honest government and combat corruption has been going on in depth and yielding fresh notable results.

"Facts prove that the major policy decisions taken by the Central Committee at and since the 15th National Congress are correct and accord with the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people," Jiang said.

Meanwhile, Jiang indicated that there are still quite a few difficulties and problems in the country.

"We must pay close attention to these problems and continue to take effective measures to solve them," Jiang said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 8, 2002)