Leading officials from eight of ministerial departments Wednesday concluded their six-day briefings on the impact of China's entry into the World Trade Organization on related sectors and countermeasures that should be taken.

Ministerial officials with the economic, trade, agricultural, financial, information technology, news and publishing, personnel, and legislative affairs administrations briefed an audience of more than 4,000 central and provincial government officials and directors of state-owned firms since last Friday.

Zhang Zhigang, vice minister in charge of the State Economic and Trade Commission, talked about the positive influence of China's WTO membership on the country's industries and business sector, and the adverse impact on some industries and products during a certain period of time.

"The government, industries and enterprises should study carefully the impact and provide countermeasures according to WTO rules and China's commitment to the trading body," Zhang said.

Zhang detailed the countermeasures that should be taken by steel, chemical fertilizer, oil product, automotive and distribution industries.

Zhang Xuezhong, minister of the Ministry of Personnel, said that people of talent are what China needs badly, and this remains the key to social and economic development.

"In the final analysis, China's entry into the WTO, to some extent, will test the quality of its public servants and professionals of all kinds."

He outlined the steps that will be taken in that regard, including further reform of the personnel system.

Yang Jingyu, director of the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council, said all government departments should make sure that they perform their duties according to law. He called on officials and entrepreneurs to get familiar with, study and know how to use WTO rules.

Xu Guangchun, director of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, said the sector will promote reform based on the establishment of large group companies, improve the quality of radio and TV programs and films, improve regulations and streamline the supervision mechanism.

Shi Zongyuan, director of the General Administration of Press and Publications, talked about the measures to effectively curb the infiltration of Western anti-China forces to safeguard state security and social stability while introducing foreign capital, technology and management expertise.

Zhang Chunjiang, vice-minister of the Ministry of Information Industry, said the government must do a good job in shifting its functions to create an environment favorable for market competition, and an information industry regulatory system conforming to WTO rules should be established.

Wu Xiaoling, vice-president of the People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, said that opening up the country's banking industry remains an essential part of China's basic policy of opening up and reform.

He said efforts will be made to accelerate the industry's opening and improve the competitiveness of the sector.

Han Changbing, vice-minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, said that China's WTO membership is in the fundamental interests of the country's development of agriculture as a whole, especially in the long run, though there will be more challenges than opportunities in the near future.

He said it is urgent to step up agriculture restructuring and develop agriculture with the help of science and education so as to improve the overall quality and efficiency and agriculture and the rural economy.

(People's Daily January 24, 2002)