Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday delivered a New Year Speech at a grand Spring Festival gathering of senior leaders, extending greetings for the Lunar New Year that falls on Feb. 7.

President Hu Jintao, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chaired the gathering in Beijing's Great Hall of the People.

Wu Bangguo, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang, all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the gathering with representatives of the Party and government.

The celebration was jointly held by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.

(Xinhua News Agency January 5, 2008)