China is facing an arduous task in reform and development in 2002, a year of crucial importance in China's development, President Jiang Zemin said in Beijing Wednesday.
Speaking at group discussions of the Shanghai Delegation at the on-going annual session of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC), President Jiang stressed that "we must seize and make the most of the opportunities, sticking to the development and solving problems on the way forward with a view of development."
Only by sticking to development, is it possible for China to secure social stability, increase its international competitiveness and secure a favorable position in international competition, and attain the reunification of the motherland and realize the invigoration of the Chinese nation, Jiang added.
Jiang said China must resolutely carry on with its reform and opening-up, give priority to science and education and speed up innovations, and arduously promote socialist democracy, the rule by law and spiritual civilization.
He heaped praises on the achievements made by Shanghai and encouraged the city to continue to provide high quality services to the other parts of the country and display its geographical advantages to make full use of both the domestic and international markets and resources.
He urged Shanghai to explore new ways to enhance co-operation with other regions and better combine its advantages in fund, technology, personnel and management with western region's resources in order to attain common development and prosperity, Jiang added.
(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2002)
