People's democracy is the life of socialism and China is committed to the development of socialist democracy, Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Monday.

"Without democracy, there can be no socialist modernization," Hu said in a written interview with reporters from both Wall Street Journal and Washington Post before his upcoming state visit to the United States, due to start Tuesday.

"To develop socialist democracy is a goal we have always been committed to," Hu said.

China's reform is a comprehensive one, covering economic, political, cultural and social restructuring, according to the Chinese leader.

In the past 30-plus years since reform and opening-up, notable progress has been made in China's political restructuring, Hu said.

The fact that China has enjoyed sustained, rapid economic growth and social stability and harmony proves that China's political system fits China's national conditions and meets the requirement of overall economic and social development, he said.

"Political restructuring must deepen in the course of economic and social development and meet people's growing enthusiasm for participating in political affairs," he said.

Hu pointed out that the political restructuring China pursues is aimed at advancing the self-improvement and development of the socialist political system.

"We will continue to expand people's democracy and build a socialist country under the rule of law in keeping with China's national conditions," Hu said.

The Chinese government will ensure that all work of the state is based on the law and that the lawful rights and interests of the people are safeguarded, said the president.

"We will define the institutions, standards and procedures for socialist democracy, expand people's orderly participation in political affairs at each level and in every field, mobilize and organize the people as extensively as possible to manage state and social affairs as well as economic and cultural programs in accordance with the law, and strive for continued progress in building socialist political civilization," he added.