The year 2006 marks the start of China's 11th five-year period (2006-2010) for economic and social development and this year's work is vital to China's development, Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Beijing Sunday.

Hu said at the New Year tea party hosted by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference that China will continue to take the "scientific concept of development" as the guideline for overall economic and social development and make a good start for China's 11th five-year (2006-2010) program for economic and social development.

China will attach more importance to the expansion of domestic demand, advance rural development, strengthen independent innovation capability and improve its economic structure in a bid to build an energy-efficient and environment-friendly society, Hu stressed.

China will expand socialist democracy, improve its legal system, promote ideological and ethical progress and deepen the reform of the cultural sector, Hu said.

China will continue promoting social harmony, work hard to address problems closely related to people's life, increase employment, enhance the social security system, improve health service, strengthen workplace safety, upgrade social management and maintain social stability in the new year, he said.

Hu noted enhancing the Chinese Communist Party's governing capability is key to economic and social development.

Source: Xinhua