Beijing -- Chinese President Hu Jintao called for peaceful development and social harmony in his New Year Address broadcast on Sunday to domestic and overseas audience via state TV and radio stations.

"Here, I'm very glad to extend my New Year wishes to Chinese of all ethnic groups, to compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, to overseas Chinese and to people all over the world," Hu said.

In the address, broadcast by China Radio International, China National Radio and China Central Television, Hu talked about domestic economic and social development in 2007 and policies toward Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

"2007 is an important year in building a socialist harmonious society under the guidance of the scientific development concept," Hu said, adding the government will strive to give impetus to the shift in economic restructuring and in the mode of economic growth.

He said the government will exert more efforts in addressing social problems concerning people's life and stick to energy efficiency and environmental protection.

Internationally, Hu said, problems such as terrorism, transnational crimes, environmental pollution, natural disasters and fatal infectious diseases have become more and more serious, regional conflicts have never ceased and the gap between the rich and poor has been further enlarged.

He reiterated that the Chinese people are willing to join with peoples of all nations in the world to promote multilateralism, advance the development of economic globalization toward common prosperity, advocate democracy in international relations and respect the diversity of the world.

He mentioned in particular that China will do its best to help developing countries accelerate development and help people suffering from war, poverty, illnesses and natural calamities in the world.

The year of 2006 marks the start of China's 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) for economic and social development, and people of all ethnic groups in China have worked with one heart and one mind to push forward the economic, political, social and cultural development, Hu said.

In the past year, social undertakings of all sorts made steady progress and people's livelihood improved step by step, Hu said.

Internationally, China actively developed friendly cooperative relations with all countries in 2006 and made endeavors to the solution of major international and regional issues. In so doing, China has played a constructive role in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

Hu also mentioned the Sixth Plenum of the 16th Communist Party of China(CPC) Central Committee, at which the CPC outlined the building of a socialist harmonious society.

On Hong Kong and Macao, Hu said the central authorities will support the governments and chief executives of Hong Kong and Macao to administer by law and expand the exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and the two special administrative regions (SARs) of China.

"We will adhere to the policies of 'one country, two systems,' 'Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong,' 'Macao people governing Macao' and a high degree of autonomy," Hu said, adding the government will firmly safeguard the long-term prosperity and stability of the two SARs.

On the Taiwan issue, He said, the mainland will actively promote exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Straits, safeguard peace and stability across the Strait, and push ahead with the great cause of peaceful reunification.