PARIS, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday night promised a "year of renewal" in 2010 in the traditional New Year's Eve address to the nation.

    He vowed to reform the pension system, to implement carbon tax law and to preserve the manufacturing industry in 2010. "France has overcome the worst and will also prepare for the future," Sarkozy said on national television.

    Since the economic crisis attacked the Europe's second largest economy, French government has threw in billions of euros to combat the economic slump.

    "We'll be pragmatic, watchful, reactive, and if more needs to be done, we'll do it," the president said, adding that "more initiatives will be taken" with the sovereign fund to brace up French industry.

    University reform and efforts to deal with high employment were also major priorities on the government's new year agenda, Sarkozy added.

    France will also commit itself to seek a new international order that can be more balanced, more regulated, more just and peaceful, Sarkozy said.

    Sarkozy is scheduled to travel to Middle East region next week during which he will reportedly visit Israel and the West Bank on Jan. 5.