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Premier Wen Jiabao's 16,000-word report on government work as
well as the Scientific Concept of Development and the spirit of
"putting people the first" the report carried, was widely discussed
by deputies of the National People's Congress (NPC) and members of
the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in
the past three days.
"Only around 20 minutes out of the 107-minute speech were spent
to summarize the achievements of last year," NPC deputy Zhu
Yanfeng, general manager of FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Company Ltd
counted time for the Premier and said, "but what China achieved
last year was really substantial."
Wang Chaobin, member of CPPCC National Committee said it was
really a hard work for the government to score a 9.1 percent
economic growth, given the impact from the severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS).
NPC deputy Gan Yuping, deputy mayor of southwest China's
Chongqing Municipality noticed that the Premier won the longest
storm of applause when he pledged to rescind agricultural taxes
within five years.
"The pursuit of 'governing for the people' was permeated in all
the Premier did last year," Gan said, adding that he witnessed
premier Wen shaking hands with Xiong Deming, a farmer in Yunyang
County of Chongqing, carefully asking about her life and helping
her husband get back around 2,000 yuan of defaulted wage.
As the touching story spread across the country, an intensive
arrears-return campaign for workers from rural areas was initiated
nationwide. From last October to February 4, about 24 billion Yuan
of wage arrears has been retrieved for them.
"In his report, the premier vowed to help workers from rural
areas all wage arrears within three years. He even listed how to
help disadvantage people get job, see doctor, get warm rooms in
winter in his government work report," said deputy Zhang Kui,
former director of Shanxi provincial planning committee, adding
that "from details, we could see the gradual change of government
work style. The country's development direction has shifted from
GDP-centered to people-centered".
The government work report set the GDP growth expectation of
2004 at around seven percent. "It is a moderate goal. Only
maintaining a stable and rapid economic growth without drastic
fluctuations, could the country make a coordinate and comprehensive
development," said CPPCC member Zhao Baoming, former director of
the State Administration of Production Safety.
Many deputies described as posing a huge economic risk
excessively large scale of investment, the serious problem of
copycat investment and low-level, redundant construction in some
industries and regions.
"The Scientific Concept of Development, which was put forward in
the government report requiring to realize a stable and rapid
economic growth without drastic fluctuations, hit the nail on the
head," said deputy Wang Youde.
The work report set forth that "we need to steadfastly push
forward with the development of the western region, revitalize
northeast China and other old industrial bases, promote the
development of the central region and encourage faster development
in the eastern region."
CPPCC member Ren Yuling said the remark will promote the
development in western region as well as the northeast China and
help narrow the regional gap.
(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2004)
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