Hu, also the newly elected general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, was speaking at a celebration rally to mark the December 4, 1982 promulgation and implementation of the revised constitution.

He said the constitution has been significant for the Party and the people in building a relatively affluent society and socialism with Chinese characteristics.

It is the fundamental law of the country, the basic guideline for ensuring stability and promoting social development, and the legal basis for the country's unification, economic development, social progress and stability, Hu said.

The constitution has guaranteed China's opening-up and socialist modernization, promoted the country's socialist democracy and human rights and pushed forward legal construction, stressed Hu.

"The experience of the past two decades tells us the promulgation of the constitution guarantees the fundamental interests of the Chinese people, national security and social stability," said Hu.

He also noted that opening up to the outside world and the development of socialist modernization are key points that can be fully implemented and developed under the constitution.

The 16th Party National Congress set a key target of building a xiaokang or well-off society in an all-round way - a major part of building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Hu said building socialism with Chinese characteristics must be based on economic construction, freedom and the development of the forces of production.

He stressed that, in implementing the constitution and developing socialist democracy, it is necessary to unify the ideas of following the Party's leadership, building a socialist society in which the people are the masters, and governing the country in accordance with the rule of law.

Hu Jintao called on all Party members and people of all nationalities to safeguard the dignity of the constitution and ensure its implementation.

(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2002)