General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Hu Jintao urged Wednesday the armed police force to make further contributions to social stability.

Hu stressed that China's development and reform needs a harmonious and stable environment.

"China needs a peaceful and sound international environment and a harmonious and stable domestic environment to realize its lofty goals in building a well-off society in an all-round way," Hu saidin Beijing when he met with delegates to the first congress of CPC members of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force.

Hu, Chinese President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, said China's reform and development has entered a crucial stage.

"We should seize and make good use of the major strategic opportunity to develop fast and make us stronger," Hu said.

He expressed congratulations to the convocation of the congress and sent greetings to all members of the armed police force, saying the force is one that the Party, the government and the people can trust.

Premier Wen Jiabao and Luo Gan, who is secretary of the Committee of Political Science and Law under CPC Central Committee, joined Hu in the meeting with the delegates in the Great Hall of the People.

The congress runs from Tuesday to Friday.

(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2005)