Special Report: Spring Festival Special 2009     

    SHANGHAI, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's former President and Communist Party chief Jiang Zemin attended a gathering here on Saturday to mark the coming Lunar New Year.

    Jiang, accompanied by Shanghai Party chief Yu Zhengsheng and Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng, conveyed festival greetings to people present at the gathering.

    He said Shanghai is facing great challenges in the current world situation, but said the city can overcome the difficulties with confidence.

    Great changes have taken place in Shanghai, Jiang said, urging the Shanghai people to continue to make concerted efforts to accomplish further achievements.

    Yu also called for the people to build confidence in the city, and to take responsibilities by devoting to their work in order to overcome difficulties in 2009.