兩會專題

While high-speed economic growth and dramatic social changes continue to distinguish China across the globe， the country's leadership is eyeing a smoother ride on its development path by setting forth a guideline prioritizing harmony.

In his government work report delivered at the opening meeting of the Third Session of the Tenth National People's Congress (NPC) on Saturday here， Premier Wen Jiabao said the government will \"strive to solve outstanding problems vital to the immediate interests of the people， safeguard social stability and build a harmonious socialist society\" in 2005.

\"The pursuit after harmony will largely decide China's future political， economic， social and cultural moves，\" said Xiao Zhuoji，an economist from Beijing University and also a member of China's top advisory body.

The concept of \"harmonious socialist society\" was first launched at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 16th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and further interpreted by Chinese President Hu Jintao at a routine high-level Party seminar held prior to this year's sessions of NPC and the National Committee of the Chinese Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) to set the keynote of this year's social and economic development.

Sustained reforms and opening-up over the past two and half decades have resulted in prosperity for many Chinese citizens， but social problems such as corruption， an income gap between interior areas and coastal regions as well as between urban and rural population， unemployment， poverty， poor production safety and pollution are among top concerns of the country's vast commoner stratum.

Against a backdrop of varied problems and conflicts， Chinese leaders have on many occasions voiced their concerns about \"balancing the interests between different social groups， avoiding conflicts and making sure people live a safe and happy life in a politically stable country\".

Actually， a range of measures has been taken in many social spheres to better serve Chinese people's vital needs， in compliance with the \"people-centered\" concept repeatedly underscored by the Chinese leadership.

In an effort to better handle peoples' complaints， China revised the regulations in this regard to make it easier for petitioners to make complaints and reduce the causes of petitions. The new regulations concerning petitions will go into effect on May 1 of this year.

In his Saturday's government work report， Wen also called for more efforts to be made to serve the \"harmony\" drive.

In 2005， 10.9 billion yuan (1.3 billion US dollars) will be allocated from the central budget to help laid-offs to be re-employed， 2.6 billion yuan (316.7 million US dollars) more than the last year. \"Local budgets will also increase allocations for the reemployment drive，\" said Wen.

The Premier also pledged to continue reforming the income distribution system， another top concern of the general public as indicated by many online polls done before this year's CPPCC and NPC sessions.

To tackle the widespread discontent with graft and corruption， the government will \"continue to increase transparency of its work and boost popular confidence in government\".

\"Whatever work the government should do， it should do well，\" said the Premier， \"We will handle conflicts among the people correctly\".

China targets 8% growth for 2005

China will gear down its high-octane economy to a level lower than the stunning 9.5 percent registered in 2004， as Premier Wen Jiabao announced Saturday that the government targets an \"appropriate\" 8-percent GDP growth rate this year.

It would be a \"key job\" for the government to keep the world's fastest-growing economy developing on a \"fast and stable\" track， Wen stressed in his government work report delivered at the opening of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC)， China's parliament.

\"Neither a big up nor down in the economy is conducive to economic growth， reform and opening-up drive and social stability.\"

The premier reiterated governments at all levels should engineer economic growth and social progress with a scientific outlook on development， shifting the government's development philosophy from growth-centered to people-centered.

China targets 15% foreign trade growth in 2005

China's foreign trade is expected to grow by 15 percent in 2005， with imports and exports basically balanced， according to a draft plan for national economical and social development reaching here Saturday.

The report predicts \"new vitality will be injected into China's export\" as a result of the fact that the government has lifted all controls over the right to engage in foreign trade.

Last year， China's foreign trade volume reached 1.1548 trillion US dollars. Exports increased by 35.4 percent to 593.4 billion US dollars， and imports grew by 36 percent to 561.4 billion dollars.

Exports of electromechanical and high-tech products increased rapidly last year， according to the report. China's foreign trade has been expanding in recent years but still stands at less than 850 US dollars per capita， far lower than the global average of 2，400 dollars.

Govt vows to keep yuan \"basically stable\"

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao reiterated here Saturday the renminbi exchange rate would be kept \"basically stable\" at a rational equilibrium in 2005.

\"We will push forward the reform of the exchange rate determination mechanism step by step，\" Wen said in his government work report delivered at the opening meeting of the Third Session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC)， China's top legislature.

China's central bank announced earlier the country turned in \"double surpluses\" -- in both current and capital accounts -- in 2004. In breakdown， surpluses from current accounts -- which track trade， income from investments and overseas workers， as well as one-way transfers such as foreign aid -- reached roughly 70 billion US dollars last year. Capital and financial account surpluses reached about 112 billion dollars.

Top Chinese leaders and central bank authorities， however， have repeatedly noted that the country should first ameliorate its financial system before implementing a flexible exchange rate mechanism.