A grand reception was held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Tuesday to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

The reception was jointly hosted by the General Office of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top advisory body, and the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Jia Qinglin, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, attended the reception, along with some 2,000 friends and representatives from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas as well as from all walks of life in Beijing to commemorate the National Day, which falls on October 1.

Liu Yandong, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and head of the UFWD, addressed the reception.

Liu said that the Fourth Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee held in mid-September decided to further enhance the ruling capabilities of the party, which would further facilitate the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics and a well-off society in an all-around way.

She said that the central authorities will firmly adhere to the policy of "One Country, Two Systems," which has promoted the stability and prosperity in Hong Kong and Macao and won universal praise by the international community.

Noting that in the first half of this year, Hong Kong's economy rose by 9.5 percent and Macao realized an economic growth of 36 percent, she said that facts have proven that the policy is correct and has strong vitality.

On the issue of the reunification of the motherland, Liu stressed that the central authorities will continue to implement the eight-point proposition made by Jiang Zemin and the four-point opinion made by Hu Jintao, and strive to push forward the cause of reunification.

(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2004)