CRI听力：China Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Landmark Reforms and Opening-up

China says it will deepen its reforms, and continue opening up to the world. Chinese president Hu Jintao made the remarks on Thursday at a ceremony to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the country's reform and opening-up drive, which helped transform the once poverty-stricken country into one of the world's largest economies.

Our reporter Xu Weiyi has more.

Reporter: Nearly 6 thousand Chinese citizens from all walks of life attended the ceremony held at the 'Great Hall of the People'.

Addressing the event, Hu Jintao said it's 30 years to the day since China witnessed the opening of the 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th Communist Party of China Central Committee.

The date is commonly regarded as a watershed in China's modern development.

Hu Jintao said China's gross domestic product has grown at an annual rate of 9.8 per cent for three decades, more than three times the world average. The country's overall national strength has risen and the Chinese people have received more tangible benefits than ever before.

"The past three decades have seen the most rapid income growth for both urban and rural citizens. From 1978 to 2007, the disposable income of urban citizens rose by 6 and a half times from some 340 yuan to nearly 14,000, while the net income for farmers climbed 6.3 times from some 130 yuan to more than 4,000."

Hu Jintao noted the country has carried out extensive international exchanges and cooperation, through which China's economy has been boosted. He stressed China cannot develop its economy without being integrated into the world.

"In the present world, no single country could succeed in developing its economy while isolating itself from the outside world. We should comprehensively analyse the external environment and seize the opportunities brought about by the ever-changing world while coping with its many challenges. We should uphold the principle of independence on the one hand and actively participate in economic globalization on the other."

The president therefore pledged China will continue walking along the path of reform and opening-up to work towards becoming an affluent society.(www.hXen.com)

"With the new international and domestic situation, we must spare no effort in promoting the reform and opening-up in the modernization drive at this new historic point in time."

China's economic reforms started 30 years ago after the 10-year Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976, which left the country on the verge of economic collapse.

Xu Weiyi, CRI news.