World leaders call for active response to challenges in economic development

Special Report:Global Financial Crisis

　 BEIJING, Jan. 2 (Chinese media) -- Some world leaders, in their New Year

addresses, have called for active response to challenges in economic development

amid the ongoing global financial turmoil.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned that the

year of 2009 will be tough for Britons as the country is being bogged down by

the financial crisis, but he voiced optimism on his people's strength.

"This coming year won't be easy, but I am determined

that this government will be the rock of stability and fairness on which the

British people can depend," Brown said in his traditional New Year message.

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said his government

will try its utmost to address the uncertainties in the current economic

situation and worries among people over their livelihood.

In his New Year's speech, Aso vowed to adopt

"appropriate measures" to lead Japan out of the global recession.

"Japan will be the first country in the world to

climb out of this recession," he said, vowing to place priority on tackling the

worsening economy.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia had

gone through trying times in 2008, when the global financial crisis hit the

country hard, adding that Russians had shown "confidence and dignity" in dealing

with the challenges.

In a televised address, Medvedev said the government

would help the Russian people cope with whatever difficulties they face this

year as the country suffers from the financial turmoil.

Finnish President Tarja Halonen said challenges

sprang from the biggest financial crisis in 80 years highlighted the

significance of social responsibilities.

She stressed the urgency to adopt effective policies

in education, employment and other social sectors while implementing an active

economic policy.

In Oslo, Norwegian King Harald V said the world has

got bogged down in a grave situation as the financial crisis unfolds and

countries need to adjust themselves to incoming changes.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said the world

countries will face more challenges in 2009 as the ongoing global financial

shock broadens and widens.

He said the Kazakh government has instituted a series

of policies to stem the fallout from the financial shock that began in the

United States but quickly spread all over the world.

Hungarian President Solyom Laszlo said the year of

2009 is likely to be one of uncertainty because the global financial crisis has

hit his country hard.

Solyom urged Hungarians to act responsibly and show

solidarity during the economic hard times in order to ride out the crisis.

Cote d'Ivoire's President Laurent Gbagbo said that in

2009, his country is still facing such challenges as the organizational work of

general elections, economic development and employment promotion.

He called for national unity in Cote d'Ivoire to

shake off the crisis as early as possible and realize lasting peace in the

nation.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki said food provision,

employment and transforming Kenya into a regional economic powerhouse will be

his government's priority in the new year.

In his new year message, Kibaki reassured that the

government is deeply concerned about the welfare of every Kenyan and will do

everything possible to address their anxieties.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski said that Poland had

made great progress in science, technology, economy and agriculture last year

thanks to the efforts of all Polish people.

Kaczynski said Poland will face many challenges in

2009 caused by the global financial crisis, but he expressed his belief that the

Polish people are capable of strengthening the country's position in Europe and

the world at large.