CHINESE PRESIDENT Hu Jintao has called on all groups to help transform society during the Year of the Rabbit, which starts on Thursday.
Mr Hu said the country must put more emphasis on raising living standards, along with economic development.
“We must rely on all Chinese people, including non-Communist parties, societies, ethnic groups and people from all walks of life and in different strata to achieve this year’s goals for economic and social development,” he said in remarks carried on the Xinhua news agency.
“We should always make the improvement of people’s lives an important starting point in promoting development in a scientific way and enhancing social harmony,” he told a symposium with non-Communist parties and individuals to mark the spring festival, which begins on February 3rd.
China has said its 12th five-year plan, which starts this year, will put greater focus on sustainable growth, environmental protection and reducing social inequality.
His remarks come as China announced a staggering four-trillion-yuan (€445 billion) water conservation spending plan. Over the next 10 years, the aim of the plan is to stop water shortages in the major cities and help to overhaul water irrigation facilities.
This year, the 90th anniversary of the foundation of the Communist Party, will be a time to take stock on what it has achieved over the years and where it sees itself heading in the future.
Mr Hu and premier Wen Jiabao are expected to start the process of passing power to the leaders-elect, Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang.
President Hu and other party bosses sent greetings to retired officials ahead of the spring festival, including former president Jiang Zemin and former premier Li Peng. Both men still have residual influence in the decision-making process in the party.
With 77 million members, the party has apparently never been so popular, but rising prices and official corruption are causing grassroots dissatisfaction.
The powerful government censorship machine is keeping a tight leash on news out of Egypt, blocking online discussion and cutting news reports about the unrest in North Africa. The Communist Party is wary of any possibility the uprising could prompt discussion about democracy in China.
In recent years, Chinese riot police have taken to the streets to crush violent ethnic uprisings in Tibet and the mainly Muslim Xinjiang region of northwestern China in 2008 and 2009, while the government was also deeply upset by the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the dissident writer Liu Xiaobo last year.
In one editorial in the Global Times, which is printed by the government official organ the People’s Daily, the unrest in North Africa was characterised as a “new wave of color revolutions”.
“Democracy is still far away for Tunisia and Egypt. The success of a democracy takes concrete foundations in economy, education and social issues,” the editorial ran.
“As a general concept, democracy has been accepted by most people. But when it comes to political systems, the Western model is only one of a few options.
“It takes time and effort to apply democracy to different countries, and to do so without the turmoil of revolution.”