"If we say that economic reform and market openness has helped the
private sector, then the 16th National Congress of the Communist
Party of China (CPC) has created further growth for both that
sector and the Chinese economy as a whole," Zhang Hongwei said in
an exclusive interview with China.org.cn.
Zhang is a member of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese
People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), vice chairman
of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and chairman
and president of the Orient Group Inc. He was full of emotion
describing the changes to the economy in the last term of the
government: "The progress we made is closely related with the
encouragement of state policies. Besides, we have transformed from
a planned economy. Since the reform began over 20 years ago,
private economy has made progress every year. These companies now
enter a new period of growth with the conclusion of the 16th CPC
National Congress last November."
He
said that this congress has cleared all the obstacles for the
development of the private sector and a breakthrough has been made,
in theory at least, with people confident of the open market. In
Jiang Zemin's report to the 16th CPC National Congress, sentences
such as, "It is essential for the Party to give top priority to
development in governing and rejuvenating the country and its drive
for modernization. A Marxist ruling party must attach great
importance to the liberation and development of productive forces,"
have created great enthusiasm and hope. This, Zhang says, harnesses
and motivates people to become, "great productive forces; essential
to the realization of the goal to build an affluent, balanced
society."
In
the past, both local government and private enterprise have made
great strides to enlarge private companies. However, local
government has now made favorable conditions for a private sector
economy, Zhang said. This development will help private companies
grow and aid the state to develop accordingly.
As
a man who "got rich through hard work", Zhang thinks that private
entrepreneurs should integrate themselves into the overall
development of society and pay great attention to underdevelopment
of peoples and areas. Even though donations and grant aid is
important, area development is much more important. Zhang maintains
that his Orient Group, now preparing to build a chain of
supermarkets, will help to promote local economic development.
(China.org.cn by Staff Reporter Zhang Juan, translated by Li
Jinhui, March 10, 2003)
|
