BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao vowed to live up to people's expectations and commented on many issues related to China's political, economic and social development at a press conference shortly after the conclusion of the parliament sess ion here Sunday.

    The Chinese government will stand new challenges and live up to the expectations of the people, said the premier, who called the year 2003 an extraordinary year as China won an "important victory" over the outbreak of SARS" and scored "obvious achievements" in its economic development.

    The premier also highlighted this year's goal of maintaining a balanced, relatively fast economic growth and considered agriculture, rural areas and farmers as the most "difficult problems" and issues related to people's interests to be what he cares most.

    The fundamental way to resolve problems affecting the people's interests hinges on "institutional development", "policy" and "laws", said Wen, noting the Chinese government is now facing a test no less severe than that posed by the SARS epidemic last year.

    The Chinese economy developed rapidly and demonstrated " more dynamism" last year. But some deep-seated problems in the country's economic structure remained unsolved while new problems such as excessive investment scale, decreasing grain output and an "obvious trend of rising prices" kept cropping up, said the premier.

    These problems exposed the Chinese government to a test "no less severe" than that posed by last year's SARS epidemic and put China's economy at a "critical juncture", commented Wen.

    Wen pledged to continue reform, innovation and forging ahead courageously and quoted verses of late Chairman Mao Zedong and an ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan to express his determination to work harder for the country in spite of numerous difficulties.

    While commenting on the country's government institutional reform, Wen said without successful political restructuring, therewere no successful economic reforms whatsoever.

    The poetry-loving premier cited the first goal as the establishment of a scientific and democratic decision-making mechanism, including a group decision-making system and consultations with experts and professional people.

    The second goal is to administer the country according to laws."We must prompt the government to administer the country in line with law, build a clean and honest government, and pursue the combination of the government's power and responsibility."

    The third goal is to accept supervision from every corner of the society, including the supervision from the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and governments must hear and solicit opinions and views from people and the general public, according to Wen.

    Wen also noted leading officials of the Communist Party of China and all Party members should play an exemplary role in abiding by the Constitution and laws in response to a question by a German journalist about the amended Constitution.

    The Constitution and laws will not be changed according to changes of state leaders or changes in the leaders' attention, said Wen.

    The premier also stressed two principles that the Party leads the people in making the Constitution and laws, and leading Party officials and all Party members should play an exemplary role in implementing the Constitution and laws.

    The amendment to the Constitution is of great significance for China's development, he said, adding that it had just been passed at the national legislature's annual session with an overwhelming support, which is a reflection of the will of the entire people.

    He highlighted the incorporation into the Constitution the important thought of "Three Represents" along with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory as the guiding ideology for the Party and the nation, saying that it is of profound and far-reaching significance. Enditem