Chinese President Hu Jintao has called on the country's law enforcement departments to improve the law and order situation to create a better social environment for its reform and development and long-term social stability.

He made the remark on Friday night when visiting an exhibition on the ongoing nationwide crackdown on serious criminal offenses at the National Museum here.

Hu, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), expressed, on behalf of the Central Committee and the Chinese government, his respects and condolences to law enforcement officers and their family members who have made contributions to the crackdown.

China launched the crackdown in April 2001.

Among the senior leaders visiting the exhibition were Premier Wen Jiabao, Vice-President Zeng Qinghong and Luo Gan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

The premier appeared very happy when he was told that the incidence of criminal offenses has dropped nationwide due to the crackdown.

Wen stressed the need to maintain the pressure on criminals and would-be criminals while improving the work of crime prevention, and consolidate the building of the law enforcement sector.

The leaders made deep bows to a monument dedicated to the law enforcement officers who died on duty during the crackdown.

(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2003)