国内英语新闻:CPC Central Committee hosts gala to celebrate Lantern Festival

He lauded the country's victory in combating natural disasters such as the earthquake in Yushu in Qinghai Province and the landslide in Zhouqu in Gansu Province in the northwest.

Noting that the year 2011 marks the 90th anniversary of the CPC's founding and the beginning of the country's 12th Five Year Plan period, Li called for all-around efforts to boost the country's development.

He also called on Chinese intellectuals to contribute more to the building of a well-off society in an all-round way.

Artistic performances were staged at the gathering while the participants were tasting rice dumplings, the traditional food for the Lantern Festival.