Eighteen-year-old Li Dandan checks out two Rabbit God figurines at a souvenir shop that sells traditional Chinese handicrafts in Beijing's Qianmen on Friday. With the Year of the Rabbit set to start on Feb 3, rabbit-shaped toys and gifts are becoming popular items at stores and markets. [China Daily]

Chinese President Hu Jintao put the country's economic tasks at the top of next year's agenda during a New Year address broadcast on Friday.

In his speech to the domestic and overseas audience via State TV and radio broadcasters, Hu said the acceleration of the transformation of the economic development pattern will be a consistent thread through China's work in 2011, the first year of the country's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015). China will adopt a "proactive" fiscal policy and "prudent" monetary policy, speed up economic restructuring, improve people's livelihoods and push forward reform and opening-up, he said during the speech entitled "Jointly Improving the Welfare of People from All Countries." The speech was broadcast by China Radio International, China National Radio and China Central Television.

The country will stick to the guidelines of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong", "Macao people governing Macao" and a high degree of autonomy to maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, he said.

"We will adhere to the principles of 'peaceful reunification' and 'one country, two systems', firmly hold on to the theme of peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, continue to advance exchanges and cooperation, and ceaselessly work for the benefit of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits," he said.

In 2010, in the face of complicated domestic and international situations, the Chinese people successfully hosted the Shanghai World Expo and the Asian Games in Guangzhou while bravely fighting against deadly natural disasters, including the earthquake in Qinghai province and the landslide in Gansu province, he said.

China fulfilled the targets set by the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) and increased its economic and comprehensive strength, Hu said.

The country was also actively engaged and played a constructive part in international cooperation to cope with the global financial crisis, climate change and nuclear issues, he said.

"On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I would like to extend sincere acknowledgements to governments and people who offered great help to us this year," Hu said.

The world currently is witnessing multi-polarization and globalization while science and technological development is on the edge of important breakthroughs, Hu said.

But the global economy is still moving on a long and winding path toward recovery and issues like climate change, energy, food security and public health security become more serious, Hu said.

"International and regional hot issues have cropped up one after another, while peace and development of the world are facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges."

China will hold high the flag of peace, development and cooperation, adhere to independent foreign policy, maintain world peace and promote common development, Hu said.

The country will stick to the principle of mutual benefits while opening up, he said.

China will develop friendly cooperation with all other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and continue to actively participate in international cooperation on global issues, Hu said.

"(We) will continue to work with the people of all countries to jointly promote the building of a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity," said Hu.

He also extended sympathy to people who have been suffering from war, poverty, diseases and natural calamities and promised that China will do all it can to help them, as it has done before.

"I believe, as long as the people from all countries make efforts hand in hand, the world will have a better future and the welfare of people from all countries will be improved," Hu said.

An article by Hu on implementing the guiding principles of the Fifth Plenum of the 17th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee will be published in Qiu Shi (Seeking Truth), an official magazine of the CPC Central Committee, on Jan 1.

(China Daily January 2, 2011)