President Hu eulogizes three-decade reform

Special report:

30 Years of Reform Opening Up

Highlights of President

Hu's speech at reform eulogy meeting

Backgrounder: Major events

in 30 years of China's reform, opening-up

Chinese President Hu Jintao delivers a speech during the conference to mark the 30th anniversary of the convening of the 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 18, 2008.(Chinese media Photo)
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BEIJING, Dec. 18 (Chinese media) -- Chinese President Hu

Jintao eulogized here Thursday the nationwide reform adopted by the Communist

Party of China (CPC) for the past three decades when China saw nearly ten

percent average annual growth rate.

Hu, also general secretary of the CPC Central

Committee, highly valued Deng Xiaoping, Chinese paramount leader at that time,

and his most senior associates for their bold decision on restructuring the

national economy and opening up to the outside world.

Hu also praised the landmark event of the Third

Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee, on which the central

leadership took efforts to mobilize all ranking officials to conduct reformist

steps.

Hu said the CPC has successfully transformed inertia

resulting from the planned economy to the dynamic socialist market economy,

shaping the mechanism that the public ownership plays primary roles while

various types of ownership are thriving.

The Chinese economy management policies underscore

the comfortable combination of macro control and market dynamics, Hu said.

In tandem with the economic reform, Hu said, the

central leadership continuously deepened political, cultural and social

restructuring, which helped stimulate economic prosperity as well as social

harmony.

Hu said the all-around opening to the outside world has brought remarkable fruits to the Chinese nation, making the country the third biggest player in international trade and the top one in reserving foreign currencies. Under the market-friendly framework, China has attracted nearly one trillion U.S. dollars in foreign direct investment.

China holds a conference to mark the 30th anniversary of the convening of the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 18, 2008.(Chinese media Photo)
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The brave transformation also made China the world's

fourth powerful economy in terms of gross domestic product, with 24.95 trillion

yuan (3.6 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2007 from 364.5 billion yuan, Hu said.

The Chinese president said the feat of feeding 20

percent of the world's population is quite a contribution to the world, with the

personal disposable income rising from 343 yuan to 13,786 yuan. The existing

population in poverty greatly shrank to 14 million, from 250 million in

1978.

Hu said China has vigorously pushed forward the

socialist democratic politics, featuring the parliamentary system of the

National People's Congress, the political consultation arrangement under the CPC

leadership, the autonomous governance mechanism in areas populated by ethnic

groups, as well as the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics.

Hu said the pursuit of advanced socialist spirits and

culture helped increase cohesion in hearts and minds among the whole Chinese

nation.

The government spared no efforts to bettering social

welfare, including free nine-year compulsory education, the medical care network

and reliable social security, Hu said.

Hu, also chairman of the Central Military Commission,

said the CPC leadership in the armed forces has to be insisted on and the

People's Liberation Army (PLA) would take more missions in protecting national

security, building the country and playing decisive roles in disaster relief.

Hu hailed significant steps in achieving the

reunification under the principle of "one country, two systems." With that

policy in effect, Hong Kong and Macao are keeping themselves stable and

prosperous. After the historic removal of ban on direct links between the

mainland and Taiwan, the cross-Strait relation is showing a new prospect.

Hu said the independent foreign policy of peace

helped China forge comprehensive ties with developed countries and amiable

relations with neighboring countries.

Hu said the CPC has to strictly discipline itself and

improve its capability in good governance, corruption resistance and risk

control.

He reiterated the principled guidance for a secure

and prosperous future.

The first and foremost is to stick to the combination

of the Marxist principles and the sinified Marxism, in order to provide

theoretical guiding for new rounds of reform and opening.

Secondly, the correct direction of the reform and

opening must be steered, with economic construction at the core of the process

that combines the Four Cardinal Principles and the reform and open-up policy.

Thirdly, it is important to integrate the pioneering

spirits of the people and the CPC leadership.

Fourthly, combination should also be highlighted

between the fundamental socialist institutions and development of the market

economy, which is expected to bring about vitality in reform and development in

China.

Fifthly, the CPC would further push forward political

reform in a drive to offer institutional and legal insurance for the socialist

modernization.

Sixthly, productivity development should always be

concerted with ethics enhancement.

Seventhly, efficiency improvement should be joined

with the unswerving pursuit of social equality.

Eighthly, while taking further steps in joining in

the globalization, China should always keep independent.

Ninthly, reform and development should go together

with maintenance of social stability.

Finally, socialism with Chinese characteristics

requires the ruling CPC to improve its capability in governance, corruption

resistance and risk control.

Hu said China is still faced with difficulties such

as low-efficient modes of development, wealth imbalance between the rich and the

poor, and lagging economic state and underdeveloped livelihood in some rural

areas.

"The experience in the past three decades tells us,"

Hu said, "the decision on adopting reform and opening-up has been in agreement

with the people's thoughts, compatible with modern tides, and completely right."

Hu said the CPC would insist on holding high the

banner of the socialism with Chinese characteristics and further sinifying

Marxism; continuing the right way of reform and development towards a vigorous,

highly efficient, more open and scientific mechanism; and letting all the people

to share the economic and social fruits achieved by the reform and open-up.

Hu said the Chinese are striving for the

revitalization of the great nation and making new contribution to the human

society.

President Hu stresses adherence to

China's own development path

BEIJING, Dec. 18 (Chinese media) -- President Hu Jintao said on

Thursday that China would adhere to its own social system and development path

and never bow to foreign pressure.

Hu made the remarks while addressing a grand

gathering here to mark the 30th anniversary of the reform and opening-up drive,

which turned the once poverty-stricken country into one of the world's largest

economies. Full story

President Hu: China emphasizes

political, economic reforms equally since 1978

BEIJING, Dec. 18 (Chinese media) -- President Hu Jintao on

Thursday said that China had in the past 30 years given equal emphasis to

political structural reform and economic restructuring.

In his keynote speech to mark the 30th anniversary of

China's launching of the reform and opening up policy, Hu said democratic

practice had become more dynamic after series of political reforms since

1978. Full story

China celebrates 30th anniversary of

landmark reform, opening-up

China holds a conference to mark the

30th anniversary of the convening of the Third Plenary Session of the 11th

Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of

the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 18, 2008. (Chinese media

Photo)
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Gallery

BEIJING, Dec. 18 (Chinese media) -- China held a meeting on

Thursday morning to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its reform and opening-up

drive, which turned the once poverty-stricken country into one of the world's

largest economies.

Top leaders, including President Hu Jintao, attended

the ceremony, which started at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing

at 10:00 a.m. Full story

Chinese praise reforms, voice opinions

on development


BEIJING, Dec. 18

(Chinese media) -- Reactions are pouring in all over the country as China celebrates

the 30th anniversary of its launch of reform and opening up.

On popular websites such as people.com.cn, netizens posted

comments hours before Thursday's official ceremony began.

The site, together with Chinese medianet.com, and cctv.com

(Central Television Station), broadcast the event live as President Hu Jintao

addressed the nation. Full

story