It is also a period in which China would have bright prospects, Hu told the Tibet delegation of deputies to the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature. The Tibetan NPC deputies are now in Beijing to attend the First Session of the 10th NPC, which opened in Beijing Wednesday morning.

During this period, "We must work for attaining our set targets and objectives steadfastly," said Hu, who joined the Tibetan deputies in their panel meeting to deliberate the government work report made by Premier Zhu Rongji on behalf of the State Council, or the Chinese cabinet, at the opening meeting.

Hu described Premier Zhu's report as one that is substantial, inspiring and dealing with concrete matters relating to all spheres of work, saying, "it is of vital importance for us to make more accomplishments in every aspect of our work."

After reviewing the successes China had scored in the last five years, Hu noted that Tibet, too, has made noticeable progress in its drive for development. He called on the people in Tibet to work hard still for faster economic growth and continuous improvements in the livelihoods of the people of all ethnic groups in the autonomous region.

To promote the development of the vast western China, the Party general secretary called for enhanced efforts to do a still better job in the key points of the current work and, at the same time, map out good blueprints for development on a long run.

"We should increase the state assistance and give scope to the enthusiasm of various areas in the western region, while incorporating the role of the government departments to that of the market so as to inject vitality and energy into the development of western China," he said.

Meanwhile, Hu expressed his opinions about caring earnestly and practically about the production and livelihoods of the broad masses of people.

(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2003)