Premier Wen Jiabao called for the entire nation to continue the reform and opening-up policy launched by late leader Deng Xiaoping almost three decades ago.

Wen, also a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, called for deepening economic restructuring in an all-around way and in accordance with the market-oriented socialist economic reform, while pushing forward political, cultural and social restructuring.

"The fundamental state policy of opening to the outside world must be adhered to," Wen told an executive meeting of the State Council on Saturday.

The meeting decided to seek public opinion on the draft of the government work report, which will be submitted to the upcoming first plenary session of the 11th National People's Congress in March.

Wen presided over and addressed the executive meeting, stressing that the government is of the people, for the people, and responsible to the people.

"A good report should be one that is cared and participated in by the people," he said. "It should fully reflect the interests, wishes and requirements of the people."

Looking back on the work of the current government, which is ending its five-year term in March, Wen called it an uncommon period as "the tasks of reforms and development have been extremely difficult".

He hailed China's achievements in the reform, opening up and modernization drive, which are featured with a large-degree increase in the country's economic capacity and big steps forward in restructuring the sectors of agriculture, enterprise, banking, finance and taxation, foreign trade and administration.

Wen attributed the achievements to the CPC Central Committee with Hu Jintao as the general secretary, which has been controlling the situation and practicing the leadership in a correct way.

He called for being cool-headed to see that there are quite a lot of problems and difficulties on the way ahead; there is still quite a big gap between what the government has done and what the people have expected.

The government has to strictly practice its power and fulfill its duties, accept supervision self-consciously and strengthen its capability and credibility, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 21, 2008)