国内英语新闻:Chinese president calls for non-communist parties' role in achieving 2010 development goals

BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday urged the role of non-communist parties and personages in helping achieve the national goal for social and economic development in the new year.

"We must rely on all Chinese people, including various democratic parties, societies, ethnic groups and people from all walks of life and in different stratums to achieve this year's goal for economic and social development," said Hu at a symposium here Wednesday to mark the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 14 this year.

At the event, Hu extended New Year's greetings and best wishes to all people from the non-communists parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and those without party affiliations.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (3rd R), who is also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), speaks during a meeting with representatives of non-communist parties ahead of the Spring Festival in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2010

Hu expressed appreciation for their hard work last year as they offered valuable suggestions for coping with the financial crisis and maintaining stable and relatively fast economic growth, urging them to continue giving such suggestions.

Non-communist parties' leaders at the gathering gave opinions on various issues including the transformation of the economic growth mode, expansion of private investment, development of ethnic regions, compulsory education in rural areas and economic and cultural exchanges between the mainland and Taiwan, among others.

The meeting was chaired by Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.