Speaking at a tea party hosted by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Hu said the government will continue to pursue the "scientific concept of development," the official Xinhua news agency reported.

"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 was cited as saying by Xinhua.

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

In addition, the president said the government will strive to promote "social harmony" and "work hard to address problems closely related to people's life," Xinhua reported.

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