Full Text: Report on the Work of the Government
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E-mail Xinhua, March 14, 2014
The foundation of agriculture was consolidated and strengthened. We carried out integrated and comprehensive pilot reforms to modernize agriculture and supported the development of diversified and large-scale farming. Reinforcement of 15,000 small reservoirs was completed. More than 63 million additional rural people gained access to safe drinking water. Ecological conservation and development were strengthened, and China's forest coverage increased to 21.6% of the total land area.
Adjustment of the industrial structure was accelerated. We encouraged the development of the service sector, and supported the development of strategic emerging industries. The 4G mobile communications system was put into commercial operation. We worked actively to resolve the serious problem of excess production capacity in some industries. We tried hard to conserve energy, reduce emissions and prevent and control pollution. Energy intensity was cut by 3.7%, and emissions of sulfur dioxide and chemical oxygen demand decreased by 3.5% and 2.9%, respectively.
Infrastructure was strengthened. The first phase of the eastern route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project was put into operation ahead of plan, and the main part of the first phase of the central route was completed as planned. Underground pipe networks and other urban infrastructure were improved. Oil, natural gas and electric power networks were expanded, and electricity generated from non-fossil energy amounted to 22.3% of the total electricity output. Civil aviation, water transport, information and postal service networks were improved. The total length of expressways and railways in service both exceeded 100,000 kilometers, with the length of high-speed railways in service reaching 11,000 kilometers, ranking first in the world.
We continued to pursue innovation-driven development. China's R&D spending accounted for over 2% of its GDP. We deepened reform of the science and technology management system and implemented knowledge and technology innovation projects. Major breakthroughs were made in a number of key technologies, such as the building of supercomputers and smart robots and the cultivation of super-hybrid rice.
Fourth, we ensured and improved people's wellbeing and upheld social fairness and justice. At a time when government expenditures exceeded government revenue by a large amount, we took improving people's wellbeing as the starting point and goal of our work, gave high priority to improving the relevant systems, ensured that people's basic living needs are met, and promoted the development of social programs.
We ensured that the people have access to basic daily necessities. We implemented the program for promoting employment of university graduates, thus enabling the vast majority of new college graduates to find jobs. We improved employment services and vocational skills training for rural migrant workers, and provided employment assistance to urban residents having difficulties in finding jobs. We improved the systems of social aid and old-age insurance. Subsistence allowances for urban and rural residents were raised by 13.1% and 17.7% respectively, and basic pension benefits for enterprise retirees were increased by 10%. Construction of 6.66 million government-subsidized housing units was started, and 5.44 million such housing units were basically completed. Thanks to these efforts, over ten million people with housing difficulties moved into new homes.
We promoted education development and reform. We launched the project to alleviate poverty through education and continued to implement the plan to improve poorly built and low performing rural schools providing compulsory education. The project to improve nutrition of rural students covered 32 million students, and living allowances were issued to rural teachers in contiguous poor areas. The number of students from poor rural areas who were enrolled by key colleges and universities increased by 8.5% over the previous year.
We deepened reform of the medical and health care systems. The basic medical insurance system now covers all the population in general, and the per capita government subsidy for rural and urban residents covered by this system increased to 280 yuan. The system of using basic medicines was implemented in over 80% of village clinics. Pilot programs of medical insurance covering major diseases were carried out in 28 provincial-level administrative areas. A trial project was launched to provide emergency assistance for disease treatment. We comprehensively implemented the national project to provide basic public health services. Six million rural women received free pre-pregnancy checkups.
We promoted the sound development of the cultural sector. A number of high-quality cultural works were produced, and more public cultural facilities were opened free of charge. We deepened reform of the cultural management system and developed the market for cultural products. The added value of the culture industry increased by over 15%. We improved the national fitness service system, and successfully held the Twelfth National Games in an economic way.
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