Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and other senior leaders on Monday urged the nation to prepare for hardships and risks in the future and push forward reform and opening up.

When joining panel discussions respectively with national legislators and political advisors at the Two Sessions, China's top annual political events. They said that officials should further study the economic situations and adopt scientific measures to overcome difficulties.

At the panel discussion with advisors from economic and agricultural sectors of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Premier Wen Jiabao said China's development still faced many complexities despite the current sound growth.

Wen said, "We have to keep sober-minded and fully recognize the complexities and difficulties in economic development and prepare ourselves for potential hardships and risks."

Wen also urged to closely follow economic trends and developments and to adopt flexible and prudent policies accordingly.

"We must consolidate our confidence. Confidence is strength, confidence is hope," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2011)