Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao promised a modest economic growth rate of eight
percent for 2006, and a massive US$42 billion budget spending to improve the
relatively weak rural sector and create another economic wonder in the populous
countryside.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivers a speech
during the opening of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of
the People in Beijing March 5, 2006. The Premier promised a economic
growth rate of 8% for 2006, and a massive US$420b spending to improve the
rural sector. [Xinhua] |
The amiable and popular prime minister, in the eyes of millions of Chinese
Internet readers, promised to implement the strategy of reinvigorating China
through science and education, and an enlarged pool of high-calibre human
resources.
On how to resolve the national reunification problem, Wen pledged that
Beijing will adhere to the basic two principles of peaceful reunification and
"one country, two systems", in which Taiwan could keep its present political,
economic and social systems.
"We will unswervingly uphold the one-China principle and never give up our
efforts to achieve peaceful reunification. We will never change the principle of
placing our hopes on the people of Taiwan. We will uncompromisingly oppose
secessionist activities aimed at Taiwan independence," Wen said in his
annual government work report to the National People's Congress at the Great
Hall of the People Sunday morning.
Major economic targets planned by the State Council, China's top governing
body, are: GDP grows by about eight percent, energy consumption per unit of GDP
falls by about four percent, inflation be kept under three percent, urban
employment increases by nine million persons, urban registered unemployment rate
be kept under 4.6 percent, and an equilibrium in imports and exports will be
achieved.
Ethnic minority delegates,
dressed up in traditional costumes, arrive at the Great Hall of the
People to attend the opening of the National People's Congress (NPC)
in China's capital of Beijing March 5,
2006. [Xinhua] |
On top of the government's economic work agenda this year, Wen said that the
State Council will pay closer attention to the well-being of the people, trying
to balanced economic growth between urban and rural areas, promoting fairness
among the public, and "enable all our people to share in the fruits of reform
and development".
Wen Jiabao also proposed an annual GDP growth rate of at least 7.5 percent
during the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006-2010). This indicates a projected
target of doubling the per capita GDP of 2000 by the year 2010 to an estimated
US$2,500.
There are rising worries that an income gap between the rich and the poor in
China, partly a by-product of China's 28 years reform and opening-up efforts
since 1978, is creating new social problems. But overall, China's government has
made a miracle in improving the majority of Chinese people's livelihood, and
China's GDP reached US$2.3 trillion in 2005, the world's 4th largest.
In 2006, China will continue to follow prudent fiscal and monetary policies
in order to maintain a "fast yet steady" economic growth, Wen said. The economy
will be powered by "a lot of activity in non-state (private) investment" and a
rapidly rising domestic consumption, which worldwide China-watchers say will
usher in a possibly the world's next largest market.
To build up this market, China's leadership has made a decision late 2005 to
kick off another lofty plan which has caught the headlines of world press --
promoting the building of a new countryside, a crusade experts say would improve
the well-being of 700 million Chinese farmers, and create thousands of modern
towns well-connected with neighboring metropolises.
Cai Mingzhao (bottom,
Center), vice-minister of the Information Office of the State Council
listens to a government work report by Premier Wen Jiabao at the
opening of the National People's Congress (NPC) in the Great Hall of the
People to attend in China's capital Beijing March 5,
2006. [Xinhua] |
Wen also pledged
to accelerate development of an environment-friendly society.
Governemnts at all levels must strengthen ecological protection of water
sources, land, forests, grassland and oceans, with emphasis on proventing and
treating pollution in the watersheds of the Huaihe, Haihe, Liaohe and Songhua
rivers, Taihu, Chaohu and Dianchi lakes, and the Three Gorges Reservoir
area.
Realizing the role of scientific and technological advances in
sustaining China's product competitiveness in world market, Wen said that his
government will strengthen the national innovation system, and put forward a
budget of nearly US$90 billion in 2006 for investment in the sector, a rise of
19.2 percent over 2005. He also said the State Council will increase a total of
US$270 billion in the next five years for compulsory education from Grade
1-9.
Recently there is a voice questioning and criticizing China's 28-year reform,
Premier Wen said the decision to implement the reform and opening-up policy
constitutes a major policy decision "bearing on the destiny" of China.
He said that reform is now going through a very difficult period and he urged
all officials to harden their resolve to accelerate all reforms and continue
making progress in banking, state firms, taxation and other crucial system
restructuring.
Premier Wen said that China needs to expand orderly citizen participation in
politics, and guarantee the people are able to participate in democratic
elections, decision-making, management, and oversight in accordance with the
law.
"We will correctly handle conflicts of interest in society in the new period,
and pay particular attention to solving problems reported by the people, and do
a good job in handling people’s petitions," Wen said.
