BEIJING (APP) -- Chinese premier Wen Jiabao said here Monday that the year 2008 has been an eventful one in the course of China’s development.

“We successfully hosted the 29th Olympic Games and the 13th Paralympic Games in Beijing and fulfilled the century-old dream of the Chinese nation,” Wen said while addressing a grand reception at the Great Hall of the People to celebrate the 59th anniversary of the founding of People’s Republic of China.
The reception was attended a large number of foreign envoys, diplomats and senior civil and military officials.
Premier Wen said that China achieved complete success of Shenzhou-VII manned space flight thus reached a new milestone in the development of space technology.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up program, he said, adding Reform and opening-up is a crucial choice that has shaped the course of China’s development and it represents the only way leading to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Wen said thanks to reform and opening-up that enabled our country to embark on the road of sustained and fast development.
“We prevailed over the disaster caused by the heavy snow and sleet storms and the devastating Wenchuan earthquake and our heroic deeds touched the hearts of all,” he said.
Wen, however said we still face many difficulties and problems in our endeavor to advance socialist modernization, but we have full confidence to overcome them.
He said that China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, adhere to an independent foreign policy of peace and work to build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.