China will continue to work with other nations to push forward world peace and development, President Hu Jintao said in his New Year's speech to the nation yesterday.

He also expressed sincere hope that a peaceful reunification of the country can be achieved.

"It is an irreversible trend that the world wants peace, people want co-operation, nations want development, and society wants advancement,'' Hu said in the speech broadcast throughout the nation on television and radio.

The Chinese Government believes the future of humans is bright and no matter how international situations change, China will always take the side of justice, the president said.

Last year meant much to the Chinese people, Hu said, referring to issues like the nationwide fight against the outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and the successful launch of the country's first manned-space flight.

Today's China is full of enthusiasm for reform and development, and people of all ethnic groups in the country are confident of building a prosperous future, Hu said.

Last year the Chinese Government further developed its friendships with other nations, especially with neighbouring countries and developing ones and actively took part in global and regional co-operation, according to Hu.

The government played constructive roles in addressing key international issues, regional security and development issues, and contributed to maintaining world peace and pushing forward common development, he added.

The coming year will be a crucial one for China to achieve its 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-05), Hu said.

China will continue to focus on its economic future,adopt the idea of comprehensive and sustainable development, deepen reforms and opening up and propel the process toward a well-off society.

The country will stick to "one country, two systems'' and its highly autonomic principles that let "Hong Kong people to govern Hong Kong'' and "Macao people to govern Macao.''

The mainland will enhance its economic and trade ties with Hong Kong and Macao and maintainlong-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao.

Hu said the Chinese mainland cares deeply for the interests of its 23 million Taiwan compatriots.

Cross-Straits economic and cultural interchanges will be strengthened and the mainland will try its sincere best to achieve the reunification of the entire country, he said.

"We firmly oppose all kinds of separatist activities aiming at the independence of Taiwan and will not allow anybody to separate Taiwan from China by any means,'' said Hu.

"We believe the reunification of the motherland will be achieved at an early date as long as all Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots, make joint efforts.''

As multipolariziation in world politics and economic globalization deepens and science and technology are developed at an ever-faster pace, people from all over the world will have new development opportunities, Hu said.

However, great challenges also exist as regional conflicts appear now and then, the harm of terrorism accelerates, the world economy grows slowly, and the gap between the South and the North expands.

Hu said China cares for and sympathizes with all people in the world who are suffering from war, hunger and poverty, and the Chinese people hope all can lead happy lives as soon as possible, and noted China is willing to offer help.