President Hu Jintao, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission of CPC, conveys festival greetings to all Chinese people and his thanks to the friends of China in the world Jan. 27. [Xinhua]

"We will pay full, meticulous attention to protect the most cared about, most immediate and most practical interests of the people," said Wen, adding efforts will be made to tackle employment, social security, poverty relief, education, medical care, housing, environment and security issues.

Wen said China made great progress in building an affluent socialist society in an all-round way in 2005 and in its modernization drive - the national economy maintained a steady and relatively fast growth. Reform and opening to the outside world took major substantial steps forward. Development of various social undertakings gathered speed and the life of people in both urban and rural areas continued to improve.

Premier Wen Jiabao, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, delivers a speech Jan. 27. (Xinhua)

As the year 2006 is the first year of the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006-2010), it is imperative to work hard this year, Wen acknowledged.

He said the nation will keep accelerating the reform and opening up, stepping up innovation, pushing forward the readjustment of economic structure and the shift of growth mode and giving priorities to addressing issues concerning the immediate interests of people.

Premier Wen Jiabao, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, delivers a speech Jan. 27. [Xinhua]