President Jiang Emphasizes Adherence to Multi-party Cooperation System 　　 　　President Jiang Zemin said on February 12 that China must adhere to the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. 　　There can be no ambiguity in this political principle and it complies with China's actual conditions, Jiang told a forum for non-Party personnel for the Spring Festival. 　　He extended new year's greetings to China's eight non-Communist parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and people without party affiliation on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council and praised their efforts in political consultation, democratic supervision and participation in political and government affairs over the past year. 　　He said that 1999 has special significance in China's development because the country will celebrate its 50th birth anniversary and resume exercise of sovereignty over Macao this year. 　　The reforms are now at a critical period and people need to work hard to settle problems in the economic and social life, he said, reminding the audience that the effects of the Asian financial crisis are still being felt in China, and economic globalization is bringing both opportunities and challenges to development. 　　"To realize the objectives of the reforms and construction, and to maintain social stability and sustainable economic growth, we must continue to promote the political advantage of the patriotic united front," he said. He said that China needs scientific analysis and to identify risks and difficulties and its own advantages and strength and asked non-Communist parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and people everywhere to make a joint effort in the socialist modernization cause. 　　Practice has shown that China's multi-party co-operation and political consultation system under the leadership of the Communist Party has its own advantages and vitality and provides powerful political backing for reforms, development and stability, he said. 　　This year will be the 50th anniversary of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the domestic and global situation puts new demand on China's multi-party co-operation and political consultation system, he said, and with the guidance of Deng Xiaoping's concept of multi-party cooperation, China needs to work hard to improve this system and to make full use of it in the new circumstances. 　　Also present at the forum were Li Ruihuan and Hu Jintao and leaders of the central committees of China's eight non-Communist parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and some people without party affiliations. 　　 HomeNews 1999-02-13 Page1 Full Story in Chinese