China
Chinese leaders offer Lunar New Year greetings to nation
WATCH VIDEO
Source: CCTV.com | 01-25-2009 16:14
Special Report: 2009 Spring FestivalChinese leaders attended a gathering on Saturday to celebrate the Lunar New Year and extend Spring Festival greetings to the Chinese people.
President Hu Jintao chaired the Spring Festival gathering. He extended new year greetings from the central government to people from all walks of life around China and to overseas Chinese.
![]() |
Chinese leaders attended a gathering here on Saturday to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year, and extend festival greetings to the Chinese people. |
Premier Wen Jiabao gave a speech, reviewing the country's achievements and challenges in the past year. He said China has met the challenges from natural disasters and the global financial downturn, and overcome the difficulties. Wen Jiabao said China successfully held the Summer Games and accomplished the first space walk in the country's history.
The Premier said the Year of the Ox also marks the 60th anniversary of China's founding and the year is full of opportunities and challenges. He said the central government should keep economic stability as its top priority. It will also boost the domestic demand to promote development the country's economy.
Wen Jiabao said all of the government's efforts are for the benefit of the public. He promised to improve people's livelihoods through better systems of social securities and medical care, a sufficient supply of affordable housing and quality education. He also stressed the importance of a full recovery in regions hit by the massive earthquake in May last year.