President Jiang Delivers New Year Message

Chinese President Delivers New Year Message

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Chinese President Jiang Zemin extended cordial greetings to people of all ethnic groups across the nation, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, overseas Chinese, and foreign friends worldwide on eve of the 21st century in his New Year Message televised by China Radio International, Central People's Broadcasting Station and China Central Television on the evening of December 31.

The common aspiration of all people in the world is to advance the achievements of civilization created by mankind, overcome such problems as war and poverty that perplexed mankind in the 20th century, and promote peace and development to create a beautiful world, Jiang said.

"We hope the new century will be a century in which people of all countries live in peace," Jiang said.

In the 20th century, the world suffered a lot from wars and conflicts. "Even today, people in quite a few countries and regions are still enduring the torment of wars and conflicts. The Chinese people sincerely wish them to live a peaceful life at an early date," he said.

The Chinese people love peace and freedom. China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and is always on the side of justice.

"We wish to strive for promoting world polarization and building a new, stable and fair international political and economic order along with all peace-loving countries and people," Jiang said.

"We hope the new century will be a century in which people of all countries seek common development," the President said.

In the 20th century, amazing achievements have been scored in promoting the world's productivity and science and technology, he said.

However, a great number of people in the world are still suffering from poverty and hunger. Some of them, without the necessaries for survival, are still succumbed to the threat of death at any moment. The new achievements brought about by rapid growth of science and technology should bring benefit to mankind, especially to the development of the developing countries. The Chinese people will unswervingly contribute its due share.

"We hope the new century will be a century in which civilization of all kinds make progress simultaneously," the Chinese president said.

The civilization of all countries are the valuable wealth of the mankind. They should be respected and learned from one another.

Only by enhancing exchanges among various kinds of civilization and promoting their progress, the great cause of world peace and development can be actually realized.

The primary tasks of the Chinese people in the new millennium are to push ahead with the modernization of the country, achieve the reunification of the motherland and safeguard world peace and make simultaneous progress.

Guided by Deng Xiaoping Theory, they will firmly promote the reform and opening-up drive as well as economic construction, firmly implement the principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems", firmly pursue the independent foreign policy of peace, strive for the promotion of the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the thorough reunification of the motherland and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and make new contributions to the mankind.

"I believe," Jiang said, "so long as people of the world and all statesmen who care the future and the destiny of the mankind combine their efforts, the planet we live will sure to become a beautiful world where people of all countries live in peace with common development and progress."