An exhibition showcasing China's achievements since 1949 was unveiled on Saturday to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said the exhibition was a "significant gift" for the anniversary, which truthfully recorded the development history of the New China and displayed the "earth-shaking" changes taking place in the nation.

He said that in the past 60 years China's comprehensive national strength had been amazingly enhanced, people's lives undergone fundamental changes, and the country's international status greatly raised.

The reform and opening-up drive had in particular mobilized Chinese people's creativity, and injected vigor and vitality into the country, he said.

It had powerfully promoted the economic and social development, and changed the Chinese nation's fate. The country was robust and the people were confident as never before, he said.

The achievements in the past six decades proved that China could be developed and a revival of the Chinese nation be realized only by adhering to the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the reform and opening policy, and by firmly following the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, he said.

Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, presided over the opening ceremony.

The exhibition, covering progresses in economic, political, cultural, social and Party constructions, will run till Oct. 20.