Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Saturday that the current international financial crisis, despite its severe impact on China's economy, also means an opportunity for the country.

China should take the opportunity to change its development pattern and realize structural adjustment so as to maintain a steady and relatively fast economic growth, Hu said when joining a panel discussion with deputies of the National People's Congress (NPC) from south China's Guangdong Province.

"Challenge and opportunity always come together. Under certain conditions, one could be transformed into the other," Hu said.

Hu said China should make full use of its advantages to break the bottlenecks in development. He also urged the deputies to promptly and creatively implement the policies and plans of the central government to create conditions for a solid and rapid development in the future.

In a panel discussion with NPC deputies from Shandong Province, top legislator Wu Bangguo said to maintain economic growth is China's top priority now, and efforts should be made to boost domestic consumption so as to secure this year's economic development targets.

In face of impacts of global financial crisis, China should seek both a temporary solution and a permanent cure, and make efforts to upgrade its industry and improve competitiveness of Chinese enterprises, said Wu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.

Premier Wen Jiabao said maintaining a steady and relatively fast economic development amid the global financial crisis is the primary task of the country's economic work and should be the focus of local governments.

It was pertinent to the overall development of the national economy and society, the people's interests, and the long-term development of the country's modernization drive, said Wen when joining NPC deputies from the central Hubei Province.

Governments at all levels should incorporate improving people's well-being into the efforts on maintaining economic growth to benefit the people and promote harmony and stability of society, Wen said.

He also urged local governments to take the opportunity to enhance their capabilities in dealing with complicated situations, keeping close contact with commoners and implementing policies.

Governments should also improve their credit, Wen said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2009)