| Following are quotes from major topics at Premier Zhu Rongji's
90-minute, 16000-word speech on Monday at the opening of the annual National People's
Congress, China's legislature, in Beijing. (The whole report is in ten parts). I.
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT FRUITS DURING NINTH FIVE-YEAR PLAN (1996-2000)
"The national economy experienced sustained rapid and sound development, and
overall national strength continued to grow...Economic restructuring was extensively
carried forward, and a socialist market economy was preliminarily established...We opened
wider to the outside world, and the pattern of all-round opening took basic
shape...People's living standards continued to improve, and generally people began to lead
a relatively comfortable life...The development of science, technology and education was
accelerated, and other social undertakings progressed in a comprehensive way."
II. ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE IN NEXT FIVE YEARS
"We have set the target for the average annual economic growth rate in the
Tenth Five Year plan period at around 7.0 percent. Though slightly lower than the actual
growth rate of the 9th Five Year plan period, it is still fairly high."
III. TENTH FIVE-YEAR PLAN (2001-2005)
"It contains fewer specific targets and sets more tentative ones adjustable
to structural changes."
IV. OBJECTIVES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE TENTH FIVE-YEAR PLAN
"Making development the central theme... Concentrating on economic
restructuring... Making reform and opening up and technological progress the driving force
for economic growth... Making improvement of the people's living standards the prime
goal... And coordinating economic development with social development."
V. ROLE OF STATE IN ECONOMY
"The state must hold a controlling stake in strategic enterprises that
concern the national economy and national security, but not necessarily in others."
VI. REVIVAL OF STATE-OWNED AND STATE SHARE-HOLDING ENTERPRISES
"There was a market reduction of losses and increase of profits in
enterprises, and total profits from state-owned industrial enterprises and from the
industrial enterprises with a controlling share held by the state reached 239.2 billion
yuan in 2000, an increase of 190 per cent over the 1997 figure. The objectives of
reforming large and medium-sized state-owned enterprises and turning around
loss-generating operations within three years were basically attained."
VII. AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS' INCOME
"Agriculture, rural areas and farmers are of great importance to the reform,
opening up and modernization drive...we need to give top priority to implementing the
Party's basic rural policy, strengthening agriculture as the foundation of the economy and
increasing farmers' income."
VIII. INCREASE INCOME FOR URBAN DWELLERS
"Government financial departments at all levels need to ensure that the
salaries of government employees and pension for retirees are paid in full, and gradually
increase salaries... We must raise salaries of senior managers and senior technical
professionals in state-owned enterprises to fully reflect their contribution."
"
IX. USING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO STIMULATE INDUSTRIALIZATION
"We need to lend support to important high-tech projects, such as high-speed,
wide-band information networks, key integrated circuits and new-type carrier rockets in
order to strengthen China's new and high-tech industrial on an overall as well as
individual basis."
X. WTO
"We should lose no time in preparing for China's entry into the World Trade
Organization and fulfilling our tasks in the transitional period."
XI. WATER CRISIS
"We need to put water conservation high on our work agenda, establish a
rational pricing mechanism, comprehensively adopt water conservation technologies and
measures, develop water-efficient industries, and raise the entire society's awareness of
water conservation."
XII. ENERGY POLICY
"We need to institute a system for preserving strategic resources such as oil
as soon as possible."
XIII. FALUN GONG
"We need to continue our campaign against the Falun Gong cult and further
expose and condemn the anti-human, anti-social and anti-science nature of the cult, which
has become a tool for domestic and overseas forces hostile to our socialist
government."
XIV. NATIONAL DEFENSE
"As we focus our efforts on developing the national economy, we must also
strengthen our national defence and increase our defense capabilities...We need to work
conscientiously to implement the military strategy of active defense in the new era;
persist in reform and innovation; strengthen the armed forces through science and
technology, with an emphasis an quality and thrift...in order to build a more modernized,
standardized revolutionary army."
XV. TAIWAN
"An early settlement of the Taiwan issue and the accomplishment of national
reunification are the shared aspirations of the entire Chinese nation and an enormous task
we are now facing...We are confident that with the unremitting efforts of all Chinese
people, the great cause of national reunification will surely be accomplished at an early
date."
XVI. FOREIGN POLICY
"We will, as always, pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, develop
friendly relations and cooperation with all countries on the basis of the Five Principles
of Peaceful Coexistence, and strive for a long-term peaceful international environment and
good relations with our neighbours. China will take an active part in international
affairs and make fresh contributions to the maintenance of world peace."
XVII. POLITICAL REFORM
"We need to press ahead with reform of the political system; implement
democratic elections, decision-making, management and supervision; protect the extensive
rights and freedoms of the people as prescribed by law; and respect and guarantee human
rights."
XVIII. Olympic Games
"We fully support Beijing's bid to host the Olympic Games (in 2008)."
(chinadaily.com.cn News)
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