President Hu Jintao last night pledged to continue efforts to resolve the global financial crisis in the year to come, which he said would be one of 'historic importance' following an extraordinary past 12 months.
'For the Chinese people, 2008 was a very extraordinary and uncommon year,' Mr Hu said in a New Year speech broadcast live on TV, radio and the internet.
Last year began with severe snowstorms paralysing central and southern parts of the mainland. It was soon followed by large-scale rioting in Tibetan-populated areas. And millions of people in Sichuan and parts of neighbouring western provinces are still coping with the carnage wrought by the massive May 12 earthquake.
After the excitement and pride generated by China's first Olympic Games in Beijing in August, authorities were soon dealing with the scandal of milk adulterated with the industrial chemical melamine. Six babies fed infant formula made using tainted milk are known to have died from kidney stones and more than 290,000 other children fell ill.
Mr Hu warned the outlook for the global economy and world stability was grim. China would do its bit to help, he said.
'China will actively engage in tackling the global financial crisis, dedicate itself to boosting world economic growth, and push for a peaceful and harmonious world,' he said. 'China will unswervingly stick to the road of peaceful development and carry out the strategy of [enhancing] mutual benefit.'