The common aspiration of all people in the world is to advance the achievements of civilization created by mankind, overcome such problems as war and poverty that perplexed mankind in the 20th century, and promote peace and development so as to create a beautiful world, Jiang said.

"We hope the new century will be a century in which people of all countries live in peace," Jiang said.

In the 20th century, the world suffered a lot from wars and conflicts. "Even today, people in quite a few countries and regions are still enduring the torment of wars and conflicts. The Chinese people sincerely wish them to live a peaceful life at an early date," he said.

The Chinese people love peace and freedom. China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and is always on the side of justice.

"We wish to strive for promoting world polarization and building a new, stable and fair international political and economic order along with all peace-loving countries and peoples," Jiang said.

"We hope the new century will be a century in which people of all countries seek common development," the president said.

In the 20th century, amazing achievements have been scored in promoting the world's productivity and science and technology, he said.

However, a great number of people in the world are still suffering from poverty and hunger. Some of them, having no basic conditions for survival, are still succumbed to the threat of death at any moment. The new achievements brought about by rapid growth of science and technology should bring benefit to mankind and in particular to the development of the developing countries. The Chinese people will unswervingly contribute to the great cause of peace and development.

"We hope the new century will be a century in which civilization of all kinds make progress simultaneously," the Chinese president said.

The civilization of all countries is the valuable wealth of the mankind. They should be respected and learned from one another. Only by enhancing exchanges among various kinds of civilization and promoting their progress, the great cause of world peace and development can be actually realized.

The prime tasks of the Chinese people in the new millennium are to push ahead with the modernization of the country, achieve the reunification of the motherland and safeguard world peace and promote simultaneous progress of all the countries in the world.

Guided by Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Chinese people will firmly promote the reform and opening-up drive as well as economic construction, firmly implement the principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems," firmly pursue the independent foreign policy of peace, strive for the promotion of the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the reunification of the motherland and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and make new contributions to the mankind.

"I believe," Jiang said, "so long as people of the world and all statesmen who care the future and the destiny of the mankind combine their efforts, the planet we live will sure to become a beautiful world where people of all countries live in peace and join hand in development and progress."

(Xinhua 12/31/2000)