Make Joint Efforts to Advance the Lofty Cause of Peace and Development for Mankind

-2008 New Year Speech

Ladies and Gentlemen, Comrades and Friends,

As the clock counts down the few remaining hours to the Year 2008, through China Radio International, China National Radio and China Central Television, I am very delighted to extend New Year greetings to Chinese people of all nationalities, our compatriots in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, and in Taiwan, overseas Chinese and our friends of various countries around the world.

The year 2007 saw new changes in the world and China has also made new progresses. Chinese people have continued to work shoulder to shoulder in building a well-off society in an all-round way. China's comprehensive national strength has further strengthened and people's livelihood has further improved. Chinese people have boosted exchanges and cooperation with people of various nations, actively engaged in the proper settlement of issues in the world's hot spots, and pushed for the building of a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity. The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which convened two months ago, mapped out the grand blueprint for continuing to build a well-off society in an all-round way under new circumstances and accelerating socialist modernization. Chinese people from all ethnic groups are making full use of their diligence and wisdom to make new efforts to write a new chapter for a better life.

2008 will be a significant year for Chinese people as we will mark the 30th anniversary of China's opening up and reform. Initiated in 1978, the reform and opening-up drive is a crucial option that determines the fate of contemporary China. It has brought historic changes to socialist China. We will continue unwaveringly to hold high the great banner of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, fully implement the scientific outlook on development, further emancipate our mind, adhere to reform and opening up, develop socialist market economy, advance socialist democracy，and develop advanced socialist culture.

Improving people's well being will continue to be our top priority in building a harmonious society in which all people are well educated, workers well paid, patients well treated, elders well tended, and families well accommodated. We will continue to adhere to the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" and the policies of "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong, Macao people governing Macao with a high degree of autonomy." We will join hands with compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao to safeguard the long-term prosperity and stability of both regions. We will also adhere to the basic principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems". We will grasp firmly the theme of peace and development in handling cross-Straits relations, and work for the well-being of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, strive for peace in the region and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

At present, the overall international situation is stable. However, with the economic imbalance growing globally, the international security situation has become more complicated, and humankind is facing an increase in troubles and challenges. Sharing the opportunities for development and meeting the challenges together for the lofty cause of human peace and development are the common wishes of people in all countries. Here I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to reiterate that China will continue to hold high the banner of peace, development, and cooperation, make unremitting efforts in taking the road of peace and development, and undertaking the mutually beneficial, win-win and open strategy. We will continue to push forward the democratization of international relations, spare no effort in driving economic globalization towards a balanced development that benefits all and into a win-win situation, boost exchanges and mutual learning between different human civilizations, protect the globe on which humankind lives, and safeguard world peace and stability.

At this moment, we are greatly concerned about people still suffering from warfare, poverty, disease, and disasters. We Chinese people are deeply sympathetic to them and are willing to do our utmost in helping them get rid of their plights as early as possible. And we sincerely hope that people of all nations can live a peaceful life of freedom, equality, harmony, and happiness under the same blue sky.

In 2008, the 29th Summer Olympic Games and Paralympics will be held in Beijing. We, as the host, will spare no effort and enthusiasm in making the two games the grand opportunities for people around the world to understand, befriend and cooperate with each other. We warmly welcome athletes from all nations to take part in the Olympics and Paralympics games, and also welcome friends from around the world to come to China and watch the games.

At last, from Beijing, I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

《共同推进人类和平与发展的崇高事业》

　　女士们，先生们，同志们，朋友们：

　　新年的钟声即将敲响，2008年就要到来了。在这个充满希望的美好时刻，我很高兴通过中国国际广播电台、中央人民广播电台和中央电视台，向全国各族人民，向香港特别行政区同胞和澳门特别行政区同胞，向台湾同胞和海外侨胞，向世界各国的朋友们，致以新年的祝福！

　　2007年，世界发生了新变化，中国也取得了新进步。中国各族人民万众一心，继续推动全面建设小康社会进程。中国的综合国力进一步增强，人民生活进一步改善。中国人民加强同各国人民的交流合作，积极致力于国际热点问题的妥善解决，努力推动建设持久和平、共同繁荣的和谐世界。两个多月前，中国共产党召开了第十七次全国代表大会，描绘了在新的时代条件下继续全面建设小康社会、加快推进社会主义现代化的宏伟蓝图。中国各族人民正以自己的勤劳和智慧，为谱写美好生活新篇章进行着新的奋斗。

　　2008年，对中国人民来说，是十分重要的一年。我们将隆重纪念改革开放30周年。1978年开始的改革开放，是决定当代中国命运的关键抉择，使社会主义中国的面貌发生了历史性变化。我们将坚定不移地高举中国特色社会主义伟大旗帜，深入贯彻落实科学发展观，继续解放思想，坚持改革开放，发展社会主义市场经济，发展社会主义民主政治，发展社会主义先进文化，继续以改善民生为重点加强社会建设，努力使全体人民学有所教、劳有所得、病有所医、老有所养、住有所居，促进社会和谐。我们将坚持“一国两制”、“港人治港”、“澳人治澳”、高度自治的方针，同广大香港同胞、澳门同胞一道，共同维护香港、澳门长期繁荣稳定。我们将坚持“和平统一、一国两制”的基本方针，牢牢把握两岸关系和平发展的主题，始终不渝地为两岸同胞谋福祉、为台海地区谋和平，坚决维护国家主权和领土完整。

　　当前，国际形势总体上保持稳定，同时，全球经济失衡加剧，国际安全形势更加复杂，人类面临诸多难题和挑战。共同分享发展机遇，共同应对各种挑战，推进人类和平与发展的崇高事业，是各国人民的共同愿望。借此机会，我愿重申，中国将高举和平、发展、合作旗帜，始终不渝走和平发展道路，始终不渝实施互利共赢的开放战略，继续致力于推进国际关系民主化，推动经济全球化朝着均衡、普惠、共赢方向发展，促进人类文明交流互鉴，呵护人类赖以生存的地球家园，维护世界和平稳定。

　　此时此刻，我们深深挂念世界各地身受战火、贫困、疾病、灾害煎熬的人们。中国人民深切同情他们的遭遇，愿尽己所能帮助他们早日摆脱困境。我们衷心希望各国人民自由、平等、和谐、幸福地生活在同一个蓝天之下，共享人类和平与发展的成果。

　　2008年，第29届夏季奥运会和残奥会将在北京举办。我们将以最大的热情、尽最大的努力，让这届奥运会和残奥会成为增进中国人民同世界各国人民相互了解和友好合作的盛会。我们热忱欢迎各国体育健儿来中国参加奥运会和残奥会，也热忱欢迎各国朋友来中国观看奥运会和残奥会。

　　最后，我从北京祝大家在新的一年里幸福安康！