President Hu Jintao reiterated the importance of the nation's balanced economic growth.

Problems must be solved in line with a scientific approach to development, said Hu, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), during a tour of East China's Jiangsu Province from April 30 through May 6.

Hu visited workshops, research institutes, rural areas and urban neighborhoods in Nanjing, Yangzhou and Suzhou.

"To fully understand the economic situation of our country, we should bear in mind that the economy has maintained a good development tendency," Hu said.

"At the same time (we should) be aware that a number of problems arise in the process of development that need our attention and must be solved," said Hu.

The central government, he added, has worked to carefully control growth in fixed assets investment. He added that measures should be taken to balance the enthusiasm for development against the pursuit of stable, harmonious and rapid economic growth by highlighting deep reforms, improving infrastructure and efficiency.

He also said central government policies that guarantee grain harvests and increase farmers' incomes must be strictly implemented.

On the country's sustainable development strategy, Hu urged local governments to do a good job and make the best use of resources while protecting the environment in order to establish a resource-efficient economy and society.

(Xinhua News Agency May 9, 2004)