胡锦涛在贺词中通过中国国际广播电台、中央人民广播电台和中央电视台向全国各族人民，向香港特别行政区同胞和澳门特别行政区同胞，向台湾同胞和海外侨胞，向世界各国的朋友们，致以新年的祝贺！
胡锦涛在贺词中说，2003年，对中国人民来说是很不寻常的一年。这一年，中国各族人民在邓小平理论和“三个代表”重要思想的指引下，万众一心，团结奋斗，战胜突如其来的非典疫情和地震、洪涝、干旱等多种自然灾害带来的困难和挑战，继续推进改革开放，促进社会主义物质文明、政治文明和精神文明协调发展，保持了国民经济较快增长和各项社会事业全面发展的良好势头。中国首次载人航天飞行取得园满成功。中国共产党十六届三中全会，对完善社会主义市场经济体制作出了全面部署。放眼今日之中国，九州大地涌动着改革和建设的澎湃热潮，各族人民焕发出创造美好未来的壮志豪情。
胡锦涛说，在过去的一年里，中国坚持奉行独立自主的和平外交政策，高举和平、发展、合作的旗帜，坚持与邻为善、以邻为伴的方针，开展全方位的外交，进一步发展了同各国特别是同周边国家及广大发展中国家的友好关系，积极参与全球和区域合作，在一系列重大国际问题及地区安全和发展问题上发挥了建设性作用，为维护世界和平促进共同发展作出了贡献。
胡锦涛说，2004年是中国人民继续贯彻中共十六大精神、实现第十个五年计划的关键一年。我们将坚持以经济建设为中心，坚持全面、协调、可持续的发展观，深化改革、扩大开放，保持国民经济持续快速协调健康发展，全面推进各项社会事业，继续推进全面建设小康社会的进程，努力开创中国特色社会主义事业新局面。
胡锦涛说，我们将继续坚定不移地贯彻“一国两制”、“港人治港”、“澳人治澳”、高度自治的方针，严格按照香港特别行政区基本法和澳门特别行政区基本法办事，支持香港、澳门特别行政区政府依法施政，加强内地与香港和澳门的经济贸易关系，保持香港和澳门的长期繁荣稳定。
胡锦涛说，2300万台湾同胞是我们的骨肉兄弟，我们十分关心他们的利益和福祉。我们将继续坚持“和平统一、一国两制”的基本方针和现阶段发展两岸关系、推进祖国和平统一进程的八项主张，加强两岸人员往来和经济文化等领域的交流，以最大的诚意、尽最大的努力实现祖国和平统一。我们坚决反对任何形式的“**”分裂活动，绝不允许任何人以任何方式把台湾从中国分割出去。我们坚信，只要包括台湾同胞在内的全体中华儿女共同努力，祖国的完全统一就一定能够早日实现。
胡锦涛指出，当今世界，政治多极化和经济全球化趋势深入发展，科技进步日新月异，给各国人民带来了新的发展机遇。但是，单边主义倾向抬头，地区冲突此起彼伏，恐怖主义危害上升，世界经济增长缓慢，南北发展差距进一步拉大，也给各国人民提出了严峻挑战。中国人民始终关心世界上一切仍在忍受战火、饥饿、贫困煎熬的人民，衷心希望他们能够早日过上幸福安宁的生活，并愿为他们提供力所能及的帮助。
胡锦涛说，世界要和平，人民要合作，国家要发展，社会要进步，这是不可阻挡的时代潮流。我们坚信，人类发展的前景是光明的。不管国际风云如何变幻，中国将始终站在人类正义事业一边，同各国人民一道，共同推进人类和平与发展的崇高事业，创造世界和平繁荣的美好明天。
Hu: Nation seeks peace, prosperity
( 2003-12-31 22:57) (China Daily)
China will continue to work with other nations to push forward world peace and development, President Hu Jintao said in his New Year's speech to the nation yesterday.
He also expressed sincere hope that a peaceful reunification of the country can be achieved.
'It is an irreversible trend that the world wants peace, people want co-operation, nations want development, and society wants advancement,'' Hu said in the speech broadcast throughout the nation on television and radio.
The Chinese Government believes the future of humans is bright and no matter how international situations change, China will always take the side of justice, the president said.
Last year meant much to the Chinese people, Hu said, referring to issues like the nationwide fight against the outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and the successful launch of the country's first manned-space flight.
Today's China is full of enthusiasm for reform and development, and people of all ethnic groups in the country are confident of building a prosperous future, Hu said.
Last year the Chinese Government further developed its friendships with other nations, especially with neighbouring countries and developing ones and actively took part in global and regional co-operation, according to Hu.
The government played constructive roles in addressing key international issues, regional security and development issues, and contributed to maintaining world peace and pushing forward common development, he added.
The coming year will be a crucial one for China to achieve its 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-05), Hu said.
China will continue to focus on its economic future,adopt the idea of comprehensive and sustainable development, deepen reforms and opening up and propel the process toward a well-off society.
The country will stick to 'one country, two systems'' and its highly autonomic principles that let 'Hong Kong people to govern Hong Kong'' and 'Macao people to govern Macao.''
The mainland will enhance its economic and trade ties with Hong Kong and Macao and maintainlong-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao.
Hu said the Chinese mainland cares deeply for the interests of its 23 million Taiwan compatriots.
Cross-Straits economic and cultural interchanges will be strengthened and the mainland will try its sincere best to achieve the reunification of the entire country, he said.
'We firmly oppose all kinds of separatist activities aiming at the independence of Taiwan and will not allow anybody to separate Taiwan from China by any means,'' said Hu.
'We believe the reunification of the motherland will be achieved at an early date as long as all Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots, make joint efforts.''
As multipolariziation in world politics and economic globalization deepens and science and technology are developed at an ever-faster pace, people from all over the world will have new development opportunities, Hu said.
However, great challenges also exist as regional conflicts appear now and then, the harm of terrorism accelerates, the world economy grows slowly, and the gap between the South and the North expands.
Hu said China cares for and sympathizes with all people in the world who are suffering from war, hunger and poverty, and the Chinese people hope all can lead happy lives as soon as possible, and noted China is willing to offer help.