Top leaders extend festive greetings to nation

Chinese leaders on Saturday offered festive greetings to people across the nation as well as overseas Chinese around the world at a gathering to mark the Lunar New Year that falls on Jan. 23.

President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao and top political advisor Jia Qinglin attended the gathering, organized by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Hosting the gathering, Hu, also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, extended regards to Chinese people at home and abroad and foreign friends on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the Cabinet.

Premier Wen delivered a speech at the gathering, saying that the country has made a good start to the Twelfth Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) at a time of an austere and complicated international economic situation.

Wen said the government would maintain stable prices and steady, rapid economic development, accelerate the transformation of development patterns and adjust the economic structure in a bid to enhance sustainable development, as well as place more importance on people's livelihoods, letting the people share the achievements of reform.

"We are going to face bigger challenges in the new year," Wen said. "We have the will, determination, courage and ability to overcome any difficulties. We have confidence in the motherland's successful and bright future."

Wen said the country will resolutely take the socialist road with Chinese characteristics, and promote economic growth and social progress, as well as improving people's livelihoods, and democracy, rule of law, equality and justice.

"We need to keep a clear head and thoroughly apply the scientific outlook on development, so to advance the reform and openning up policy and the socialist modernization construction.

Wen called for excellent achievements in a bid to put the country on a firm footing for the upcoming 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Other leaders, including Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang, also attended the gathering.

The Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional festival for China.