President Hu Jintao AP Photo
BEIJING, China
(International Herald Tribune - AP),
December 31, 2007:
In a New Year address broadcast live on state television and radio today, Chinese President Hu Jintao said China would continue along its path of economic reform in 2008, but it needed to "strengthen social construction" and provide better social services to help the sick and elderly.
"We will strive to ensure education for all, payment for work done, treatment for the sick, care for the elderly and homes for everyone to promote social harmony," he said.
Monday Hu visited residents living on government subsidies in the industrial port city of Tianjin, as well as senior citizens. But he noted that international security was becoming more "complicated" along with global economic disparity.
Copyright © 2007 the International Herald Tribune
