The New Murphy's Law: What can go right will go right

BEIJING (AFX) - Chinese President Hu Jintao pledged Saturday to maintain
"fast and healthy" economic growth in 2005 but warned China is at a crucial
stage of development, Xinhua news agency reported.
In his speech at a New Year's Day gathering of Communist Party-led
politicians, Hu said economic growth will remain at the top of the agenda in the
coming year and that economic reforms will move ahead, Xinhua said.
"In the new year, we shall continue to strengthen and improve macro-economic
control, speed up reform and opening up process for the transformation of the
mode of economic expansion, so as to maintain fast and healthy development of
the national economy," Hu was quoted as saying.
China's booming economy is expected to expand by 9.3 pct in 2004, up from
9.1 pct in 2003, despite a series of measures to dampen overheating and address
glaring economic imbalances.
"We are faced with opportunities that need to be tightly grasped and
challenges seriously handled," Hu said.
"China's social and economic development has entered a crucial stage," he
said, in apparent reference to growing unemployment, corruption in government
and a widening gap between rich and poor.
He also reiterated his vow to maintain the ruling party's firm grip over
state affairs, but called on the party to "empathize with the feelings of the
people, work for the well-being of the people, (and) do its best to solve
difficulties of the people.
"The party shall launch a nationwide campaign to educate its members for the
improvement of its ruling capacity," he said.
Hu also reiterated a New Year's Eve message to Taiwan, insisting that China
will never stand by idly if the island ever formally declares independence from
China.
"Here I once again reiterate that we will strive for the prospect of
peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and effort," Hu said.
"We, however, will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China in any
form, and the Chinese government and Chinese people will never hesitate to
safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.
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