BEIJING -- China has experienced an extraordinary period over the past five years, when the Party guided the people to overcome hardships and attained achievements, Hu Jintao said in his report to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Monday morning.

"The five years since the 16th Congress was an extraordinary period," Hu said on behalf of the 16th CPC Central Committee.

Hu reviewed that the economic strength increased substantially, major breakthroughs were made in reform and opening up, people's living standards improved significantly, fresh progress was registered in improving democracy and the legal system, a new situation was created in cultural development, and social development proceeded in an all-round way.

During the past five years, historic achievements were made in the development of national defense and the armed forces, work related to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan affairs was intensified, major progress was made in all-directional diplomacy, and the new undertaking to build the Party achieved solid progress, Hu said.