BEIJING -- An elementary school in Beijing's downtown area received a visit from Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday morning to coincide with the 22nd National Teachers' Day of China which falls on September 10 each year.

Wen joined a class of grade five students in a Chinese language lesson, which lasted 40 minutes.

Premier Wen Jiabao attends a class with agrade-five pupils in an elementary school in Beijing's downtown area Thursday morning, September 8, 2006. [Xinhua]

Wen paid tribute to teachers across the country at a symposium which was held after the class with headteachers and teachers of primary, secondary and vocational schools in the capital.

The teachers put forward their suggestions on future educational reform and development.

Wen pointed out that promoting the all-round development of students does not mean there is no longer a need for an appraisal system. We are in dire need of a "comprehensive and regular" appraisal system for their character building, physical training and intellectual performance, he said.

China's education system has focused on intellectual performance for decades. In recent years, however, the education authorities have been trying to boost the all-round performance of students.

"Only if we respect teachers and highlight the importance of education, can our country flourish," Wen said.

Among those who accompany the premier were Liu Qi, member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, Chen Zhili, state councilor, Zhou Ji, minister of Education, and Wang Qishan, mayor of Beijing.