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Economic goals for 2006 outlined
(China Daily)
Updated: 2005-12-02 05:44
Fast, stable and sustainable growth. More competitive domestic enterprises.
Boosting rural development to improve the lives of farmers.
These are among the key economic objectives for the new year, according to a
central conference which ended in Beijing yesterday.
President Hu Jintao speaks at the annual
meeting. [Xinhua] |
The three-day annual meeting, held by the Central Committee of the Communist
Party of China and the State Council and attended by President Hu Jintao and
Premier Wen Jiabao, set guidelines and major tasks for the economy next year.
The meeting agreed that the country's macro-economic policies would continue
to aim for fast and stable growth.
Such a growth mode is imperative for increasing national strength and
relieving contradictions in economic and social development, said a statement
issued after the meeting.
It said the key lies in increasing domestic demand, sticking to prudent
fiscal and monetary policies and improving macro-regulation.
The government will continue to rein in excessive investment in such
overheated sectors as steel, cement, aluminium and copper.
"The message from the meeting indicates that the highest leadership is
determined to make China's economy develop in a sustainable way," said Lin
Yueqin, a researcher with the Economic Research Institute of the Chinese Academy
of Social Sciences, a task he described as "challenging."
China's economy, which grew at an average of 9.4 per cent during the past 26
years, is expected to expand by 9 per cent this year.
Liu Shijin, vice-president of the Development Research Centre of the State
Council, forecast that the pace of the economy would slow down to between 8.5
and 9.0 per cent next year.
Emphasis is also placed on sharpening the competitive edge of domestic
enterprises.
The statement said it is urgent to accelerate industrial restructuring by
using advanced technology to upgrade traditional industries and eliminate
outdated productive forces.
Efforts will be intensified to save resources and protect the environment,
the statement said.
Zhang Jianyu, a visiting scholar at Tsinghua University, said it is essential
to build a "resource-saving and environment-friendly society."
"It should be the goal not only for the next year, but for all time," said
Zhang.
He said the increasing number of pollution accidents and work safety
disasters underscore the urgency for action in this regard.
"New socialist countryside" was highlighted as a new concept and "common
action" of the whole Party and nation.
It involves increasing rural production, better livelihood, cultural
development, clean villages and democratic management of village affairs.
The building of a new countryside and resolution of problems related to
agriculture, rural areas and farmers has a bearing on the building of a well-off
society in an all-round way as well as China's modernization drive, the
statement said.
President Hu and Premier Wen agreed that it should be regarded as the central
task of the Party.
"We should help farmers increase their income and continue to promote
improvement in the agricultural structure," said the statement.
The construction of roads, water- and electricity-supply and
telecommunication facilities should be stepped up in rural areas, it said.
"We will continue to increase investment in rural educational, cultural and
health undertakings."
On other fronts, the meeting also urged deepening reforms and opening wider
to the outside world for win-win results.
Lin said this shows the central leadership's vision of "balanced development"
both domestically and internationally.
On building a harmonious society, priority will be given to resolve the
practical problems concerning the fundamental interests of the general public,
said the statement.
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