President Hu Jintao said?on Thursday morning that the Chinese people were confident in and capable of building their own country and making due contribution to the world.

Addressing a grand rally at the Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Hu vowed to keep to the road of China-style socialism and the reform and opening-up policy.

"The development and progress of New China over the past 60 years fully proved that only socialism can save China and only reform and opening up can ensure the development of China, socialism and Marxism," Hu said.

In his speech, which was televised live nationwide and throughout the world, Hu said the Chinese nation, which had a civilization of more than 5,000 years, had entered a new era of development and progress since Chairman Mao Zedong pronounced the founding of the People's Republic of China on the same day 60 years ago.

The Chinese people have since made great achievements that have attracted world attention guided by the three generations of Party leadership with Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin at the core, as well as the 16th and 17th CPC Central Committee, the president said.

"Today, a socialist China geared to modernization, the world and the future has stood rock-firm in the east of the world," said Hu.

He vowed to "unswervingly" stick to the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the reform and opening-up policy, push forward scientific development and promote social harmony for a "new chapter" of the people's happy life.