China made all-around progress and dealt with "unprecedented risks and challenges" during the past five years, or the 11th Five-Year Program period (2006-2010), said Premier Wen Jiabao when explaining a proposal on formulating the country's development roadmap over the next five years.

Wen said the last five years were "extraordinary," adding that China had made big progress in economic growth pattern transformation, economic restructuring, agricultural production, industry upgrading, infrastructure improvement, energy saving and environmental protection, among other achievements.

He said while focusing on economic development, the government had paid more attention to developing social undertakings and improving people's livelihoods.

The thousand-year-history agricultural tax was abolished, free nine-year compulsory education was realized across the country and a social security system covering both urban and rural areas was established during the past five years, he said.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's Proposal on Formulating the 12th Five-Year Program (2011-2015) on National Economic and Social Development was issued Wednesday after it was adopted at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee which ended Oct. 18.

The new Five-Year Program, to be drafted by the State Council, is expected to be reviewed at the Fourth Session of the Eleventh National People's Congress next March.