On the eve of the Chinese lunar New Year, President Jiang Zemin extended greetings to the Chinese people of various ethnic groups including compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as all overseas Chinese throughout the world.

Jiang greeted the people a happy new year when addressing a Spring Festival gathering at the Great Hall of the People held by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council.

Senior Party and government leaders, including Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, Li Ruihuan, Hu Jintao, Wei Jianxing and Li Lanqing, attended today's gathering.

Spring Festival is the most important holiday for Chinese, and the top leaders hold such a meeting to celebrate the lunar new year among the people almost every year.

(Xinhua)