CHINA
Projected GDP growth for 2006
By Li Hong (chinadaily.com.cn )
Updated: 2006-03-05 09:03
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.
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