President Hu Jintao has warned that the global financial crisis will make it harder for the country to maintain its pace of economic development in the near future.

A large population, limited resources and environmental problems pose a challenge for the country. That's why the economic growth pattern needs to be revised and sustainable development achieved, Hu told a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Saturday.

The country should maintain a stable and relatively fast economic growth, accelerate structural readjustments for sustainable development, and stick to reform and opening up, said Hu, who is also the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.