President Jiang Zemin and other top Chinese officials Wednesday attended the Lantern Festival evening party at the Great Hall of the People.

Vice-president Hu Jintao, who presided over the festivities, extended new years greetings to all present on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Hu Jintao also stressed that 2000 is a particularly important year for China to meet its economic targets.

The evening party, which also featured Beijing Opera excerpts, folk songs and magic shows, was attended by more than 300 guests.

The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month which will be the 19th of this coming Saturday.