According to a nationwide survey published in Tuesday's China Youth Daily, about 80 percent of the public support the country's current overall development strategy.

When asked their views on the strategy, 80.1 percent said that it was "absolutely right" or "relatively right," while only 2.6 percent chose "totally wrong" or "relatively wrong."

The survey was conducted by the Beijing-based research company Horizon Group in late 2004. It involved a sample of 3,859 aged between 18 and 60 in seven large cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, and seven towns and their surrounding rural areas.

The overall approval score for the strategy was 3.99 out of 5.

The average scores of confidence in government management, China's international status and the level of current economic development were 3.88, 3.78 and 3.68, all higher than those in the same survey from 2003, said the paper.

But scores on public security and the ability to bear price fluctuations were 3.62 and 3.18, both lower than that of last year.

The survey found strong confidence in future development. The average scores of confidence on future economic development, public security and China's international status were 4.13, 4.09 and 3.88.

(Xinhua News Agency January 5, 2005)