China will hold high the great banner of Marxism and Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory, rally round the Party Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin at the core, work hard with one heart and one mind, deepen reform and promote development so as to create a still more splendid future in the new century.

In its New Year's message titled "Greeting the Dawn of the New Century," the People's Daily, says this practice in the past year and in the past decade as well has eloquently proven that the basic line and principles of the Communist Party of China (CPC) have been shown correct at a time

when the country is confronted with complicated domestic and international situations.

The 20th century is approaching its end, the message says. The achievements of civilization created by mankind in the past 2,000 years and the dear price paid for them inspired the Chinese people to firmly explore into the future.

The Chinese nation, which has one fifth of the world's population, created a brilliant ancient civilization and is now building socialism with Chinese characteristics, shoulders the heavy responsibility of creating new developments in the new century.

From the middle of the last century to the middle of this one,the Chinese people finally achieved national independence and people's liberation after 100 years of bloody struggles, the

message says. And from the middle of this century to the middle of next century, the Chinese nation will basically achieve socialist modernization and will stand proud among the family of nations.

Moreover, the message recalls that the Chinese people have, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), undergone untold sufferings and severe tests in the past centuries.

As bells chime in celebration of the coming new millennium, the Chinese people are overjoyed with the advancement of mankind during the past 1,000 years.

The Chinese people also are proud of their glorious achievements made in the past, the newspaper says.

It stresses that 1999 is an important year for the Chinese people in terms of its battles against various difficulties.

Under complex internal and international conditions, China hit goals in the process of reform and opening and the economic development.

In the past year, the Chinese people celebrated the 50th founding anniversary of new China, and the smooth return of Macao to the motherland, the message recalls.

Meanwhile, the Chinese people, united as one, in the past year denounced the U.S.-led NATO bloc for its bombing of the Chinese embassy in the Federation of Yugoslavia, the message notes, and repudiated the "two-states" theory peddled by Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan and the Falun Gong evil cult organization.

During the past year, remarkable achievements were attained in China's reform, opening and economic development in spite of the fairly complicated domestic and international environment. The state revenue was on the rise, the livelihood of the Chinese people continued to improve, stability was maintained in China's political situation, all ethnic groups were harmonious, and China's international standing was upgraded further, the message says.

And the coming year of 2000, the last year of the current century, which serves as a vital link between the past and the future, is still faced with the arduous task of carrying out reform and development and stability.

The message urges the entire Chinese people to keep in high spirits, be full of vitality for further enhancing the nation's economic strength, defense capabilities and national cohesion, so

as to comprehensively advance the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Developing the economy and improving national strength calls for a united, stable domestic environment as well as a sound international environment favorable to China's stability and

development, the message adds.

Noting that stability is an overall, overwhelming issue, the message stresses that nothing can be done without the attainment of stability, and people should value all the more this good situation and seize the opportunity to do China's things well.

Internationally, the message notes, peace and development remain the themes of our time, and the world's polarization continues to develop, and major progress has been made in China's foreign affairs work.

Mankind has scored amazing successes in the past two millennia. The Chinese nation, with one-fifth of the world's population, will shoulder still greater responsibilities for creating a bright future for the world, the message says.

Meanwhile, a leading Chinese ideological journal, "Seeking Truth", has also published a New Year's editorial titled "Striding Proudly Ahead into the New Century."