Private Sector, Transformation of economic growth Pattern

President Hu joined a panel discussion of advisors from the non-communist China National Democratic Construction Association and the All China Federation of Industry and Commerce, an organization of private entrepreneurs.

He said the country's private businesses are now standing on a new starting line and urged them to seize opportunities for development.

The country will unswervingly encourage and support the development of private businesses while it would always unswervingly seek to strengthen the public sector, Hu vowed.

Non-public enterprises should have a clear understanding of the current situation, seize the opportunities and score greater achievements in strengthening their own competence and helping accelerate the transformation of the country's economic growth pattern and improve people's livelihoods, Hu said.

Hu said he is glad to see more Chinese private enterprises are seeking business opportunities overseas and have obtained progress, but he warned them to guard against risks while seeking overseas expansion.

After hearing the panel discussion by political advisors from the Communist Party of China (CPC), He Guoqiang, Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said priorities should be given to accelerating the transformation of China's economic growth pattern, which is of pivotal and fundamental importance to the country.

He urged to promote innovation and strengthen education and supervision in order to make sure all policies facilitating the transformation are fully implemented.

He, also head of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, also called for unswerving efforts to fight against corruption and enhance party building.

Hearing public Opinions

Premier Wen Jiabao stressed the importance of solicitation of public opinions in the process of decision making in a discussion with advisors from the economic and agricultural circles.

Authorities should invite experts to study the feasibility of major decisions linked to the country's social and economic development, and should listen to public opinions when making decisions of public concerns, Wen said.

He said the political advisors offered many realistic and insightful suggestions to help the country deal with challenges brought by the global financial crisis last year.

Wen encouraged them to track and keep their fingers on the pulse of internal and external economic conditions, which would become more complex this year, and to continue making suggestions to the government.