The ongoing Fourth Session of the Ninth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) convened its second plenary meeting Wednesday afternoon, with Chairman Li Ruihuan attending.
Vice-Premier Wen Jiabao and State Councilor Wu Yi also attended the meeting at which a dozen members made speeches on a number of issues including the cross-country water diversion project, economic restructuring, development of small enterprises and agriculture, and environmental protection.
Chen Baozhu, speaking on behalf of the Subcommittee of Population, Resources and the Environment of the CPPCC National Committee, hailed the proposed project to divert water from south to north, terming it as a strategic one for the country's sustainable economic and social development.
Zhu Wenquan of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce urged the establishment of a fund-raising system for small businesses.
Six of the speakers focused on issues regarding agriculture, such as establishment of rural co-ops, modernization of the farming sector, increasing farmers' income, promotion of tax reform in rural areas, and efforts to curb desertification in the country's western region.
Chen Jinhua, a vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee who presided over the meeting, urged the members to hold further discussions and offer more opinions on the water diversion project.
(People’s Daily 03/07/2001)
