Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Tuesday in Hanoi that China will make greater efforts in maintaining a rapid and sound development of its economy and social progress.

The concepts of "putting people first" and scientific development are the key to pushing forward the reform and opening-up in China and achieving a sustainable, rapid and sound development of its economy and social progress," Hu said in an address to Vietnam's National Assembly.

China has also made great strides in increasing the country's productivity, enhancing its over-all national strength and improving people's life since it adopted the reform and opening-up policy in 1978, said Hu, who is also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

China's gross domestic product (GDP) has increased from 147.3 billion US dollars in 1978 to 1.6494 trillion US dollars in 2004 with an average annual growth rate of 9.4 percent, Hu said.

China will attain the grand objective set by the 16th CPC National Congress in 2002 of building a well-off society in an all-round way and by 2020, the GDP is expected to quadruple that of the year 2000 to reach four trillion US dollars in aggregate and 3,000 US dollars in per capita terms, he said.

To achieve that goal, China should do well in four aspects, said Hu.

First, the concept of scientific development should be adhered to as a guideline for social and economic development. Secondly, the development of socialist political civilization, cultural and ethical progress and economic construction should be promoted in a coordinated way, Hu said.

Thirdly, efforts will be focused on building a harmonious socialist society and fourthly, great efforts should be made to strengthen the CPC's governance capability and its "vanguard nature," Hu said.

In his address, Hu also paid tribute to the remarkable achievements Vietnam has made since it adopted the "doi moi" (renewal) policy two decades ago, which features economic reforms on the basis of social and political stability.

Hu arrived here earlier Monday on a three-day official goodwill visit to Vietnam,

Source: Xinhua