The year 2004 will be a critical year for the reforms and development in China, Premier Wen Jiabao said Tuesday.

This year the country stands at a turning point in its economic development and will see dramatic reforms, Wen said in a report on the economic situation to a meeting in Beijing.

China would face both opportunities and challenges in 2004, he said.

The government would make more efforts to improve macro-economic controls and focus more on individuals, especially to solve the problems that greatly harm individual interests, in a bid to realize a balanced and sustainable economic and social development, he said.

The country would work to implement the policies set at the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Third Plenary Meeting of the 16th CPC Central Committee, Wen said.

Last year the Chinese economy survived the outbreak of SARS, severe natural disasters and international challenges to maintain favorable growth, Wen said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2004)