Premier Zhu Rongji said in Beijing today that safeguarding social stability and state security is a fundamental prerequisite for promoting reform and opening up as well as the modernization drive.

At the opening meeting of the Third Session of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC), Zhu called for taking strong measures against acts of sabotage perpetrated by hostile forces and elements inside and outside China, and cracking down on violations of the law and all types of crime, with a focus on curbing violent crime, drug-related crime, organized crime, crimes involving guns and explosives and all kinds of serious economic crime.

At the same time, he noted, evil cults must be banned and persecuted in accordance with the law. Measures for controlling all facets of public security should be better implemented to create a safer social environment.

He said problems among members of the general public arising from the changing conditions in society require special attention and proper handling, with the interests of all sides fully taken into consideration.

"We should take seriously letters and called-in complaints from general public and carry out effective ideological and political work to solve problems and settle disputes in good time before they develop and spread," he said.

The premier said China is a unified, multi-ethnic country. "We must work to consolidate and develop socialist relations characterized by equality, unity and mutual assistance among all ethnic groups for common prosperity and progress. We should continue to implement the guiding principles of the Central Conference on Ethnic Affairs and speed up economic growth and social progress in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities," he said. He said that the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Autonomy of Ethnic Minority Regions should be carefully followed and the autonomy of the ethnic minority regions and the equal rights of their inhabitants should be protected, noting, "We should go all out to train more cadres and various kinds of qualified personnel from among ethnic minorities. The stability of ethnic minority areas and the unity of the motherland must be resolutely defended."

He noted that the government policy on freedom of religious belief should be thoroughly and correctly enforced; the administration of religious affairs should be strengthened in accordance with the law; and vigorous efforts should be made to guide the various religions in adapting to socialist society. "We should properly handle affairs relating to overseas Chinese under the changing conditions to give full play to the role of Chinese nationals residing abroad in promoting reform and opening up and realizing the great cause of the peaceful reunification of the motherland," he said.

The premier further noted that strengthening national defense and building up the army are important guarantees for the security of the country and the success of the modernization drive. Moreover, he said, "We should energetically support efforts to improve the quality of the People's Liberation Army, continuing to strengthen the army through science and technology and upgrading its weapons and equipment. We should improve the army's defense capabilities and combat effectiveness, fully taking into consideration modern technology, especially high technology." The reform of the national defense mobilization system should be continued and the militia and the reserves strengthened, and national defense education should become more widespread to raise the people's awareness of the importance of national defense, Zhu said. Good arrangements should be made for demobilized service men and women.