President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday night during his New Year speech that 2009 will be hard because of the global financial crisis but that the government stood ready to do more to help the French economy if needed.

"The difficulties that are ahead of us in 2009 are great," Sarkozy said. "A new world will be born of this crisis, for which we must prepare by working more, investing more, and pursuing reforms because they are vital for our future."

The president underlined the 26 billion euros (36.4 billion dollars) stimulus package introduced Dec. 4 to help restart the French economy.

Sarkozy said reforms in medical care, penal procedures and education would continue in 2009.

"We shall be pragmatic, attentive, reagent and if it is necessary to make more, we shall make it, but maintaining our sang-froid," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 2, 2009)