Front page, Oct 1, 1998

1998: Severe tests and major victories

As the People's Republic of China celebrated its 49th birthday, then-Premier Zhu Rongji said Chinese people had withstood "severe tests and won major victories in 1998".

"The Chinese military and civilians displayed their strength and unity when fighting the unprecedented flooding during the summer."

"With the forceful support of the people throughout the country, people in the disaster areas will be able to build an even better homeland through hard work and by carrying forward the great flood-fighting and self-reliant spirit," Zhu said.

Zhu also said the introduction of foreign professionals and sending personnel abroad for advanced studies are part of China's long-term strategic policy.

On the bottom left corner of this front page, it said China will implement a series of projects for seniors and conduct symposiums focusing on ageing issues during the International Year of the Elderly.

"China will become an ageing country by 2000, when 130 million people will reach age 60, comprising more than one-tenth of the population."

During the National Day holiday in 1998, the front page said "more than a million tourists are expected to gather in Zhejiang to view the 'eighth wonder of the world'."

"Affected by the moon's attraction, water from the East China Sea collides with the river at its trumpet-like outlet, forming huge tidal waves. The waves are then pushed towards the upper reaches of the river at an average speed of 5 to 7 metres per second," the report said.

In the international relations, former US President Bill Clinton met former Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, expressing his desire to maintain the momentum in developing Sino-US relations.