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Ladies and gentlemen, comrades and friends,

The bell for the year 2012 is about to ring. At this beautiful moment of bidding farewell to the old and ushering in the new, via China Radio International, China National Radio and China Central Television, I am delighted to extend the New Year greetings to Chinese of all ethnic groups, to compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions and in Taiwan, to overseas Chinese and to friends all over the world!

2011 saw the start of the 12th five-year plan for China's national development. Facing complex international situation and arduous tasks in continuing domestic reforms, development and stability, Chinese people have united in their undertakings. We have continued to promote reform and opening-up as well as the socialist modernization drive. We have maintained a stable and relatively fast economic growth. New progress has also been made in building a well-off society in an all-round way. China has strengthened friendly exchanges and pragmatic cooperation with the rest of the world, and actively participated in the efforts made by the international community in promoting world economic growth and financial stability, improving economic management and resolving international and regional hot issues. Therefore it has made further contributions to world peace and development.

In the new year, we will unswervingly adhere to the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics, follow the guidelines of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents, and further carry out the Scientific Outlook on Development. We will continue to properly deal with the relationship among maintaining a stable and relatively fast economic growth, adjusting economic structure and managing inflation expectations. We will accelerate the change of economic development mode and structural adjustment, focus on ensuring and improving people's livelihood and work hard to consolidate the healthy momentum of economic and social development.

We will uphold the principles of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and "Macao people governing Macao" with a high degree of autonomy. We will work together with our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao to maintain long-term prosperity and stability in the two Special Administrative Regions. We will adhere to the principles of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems," continue to promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, maintain the essential interests of the Chinese nation and enhance the common interests of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

Peace, development and cooperation are the calls of the time and serve the common interests of people of all countries. At present, the world is moving further towards political multi-polarity and economic globalization while countries are depending more and more on each other. However, the recovery of the world economy is facing growing instability and uncertainty. International and regional hot issues have cropped up one after another. World peace and development are facing new opportunities and challenges. China will continue to follow its diplomatic mission of maintaining world peace and promoting common development, adhere to its independent foreign policy, take the road of peaceful development and implement a strategy of opening up for mutual benefit and win-win situations. It will develop friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation with all countries, on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and actively participate in efforts of the international community in dealing with global issues.

I believe, as long as people of all countries work together, we will surely overcome all kinds of difficulties and risks and continually make new achievements in building a world with lasting peace, common prosperity and harmony.

Finally, from here in Beijing, I wish you all happiness, peace and good health in the New Year!