China's Premier Wen Jiabao said on Friday that maintaining fast yet steady economic growth will be one of the major tasks of the government in 2007.

 

"Sharp fluctuations must be prevented," Wen said at a plenary meeting to discuss the drafting of a government work report to be delivered at the forthcoming fifth annual session of the Tenth National People's Congress.

 

Efforts should also be made to restructure the economy and change the economic growth pattern, enhance energy efficiency and environmental protection, continue reform, opening up and innovation, boost social development and solve the problems concerning the people's daily lives, Wen said.

 

Wen said the central government must "adopt a scientific approach to economic and social development".

 

He emphasized the work at the start of the year, saying it was of "significant importance" to the work of the whole year, the last year of the current government's five-year term.

 

Wen said the government should take measures to rationally control fixed assets investment, tighten the management of currency and credit, improve land control and management, and guard against excessive investment and loans.

 

The premier also required government departments to work "vigorously" to enhance energy efficiency and reduce the discharge of industrial waste.

 

A preliminary estimate by the National Bureau of Statistics showed China's gross domestic product (GDP) reached 20.94 trillion yuan (US$2.7 trillion) in 2006, up 10.7 percent year on year.

 

China's fixed asset investment totaled 10.99 trillion yuan in 2006, up 24 percent year on year. Despite rigorous government controls, investment in property development still reached 1.94 trillion yuan, up 22 percent, or 0.9 percentage points higher than the previous year.

 

Wen said that all government departments must seriously implement the policies that aim to support and benefit farmers and improve macro-control of the grain market to ensure a stable grain output.

 

He required government departments to improve financial work by ensuring public funds are spent efficiently, practicing economy and opposing extravagance and waste.

 

Wen said measures should be taken to ensure supplies of coal, electricity, oil and gas.

 

Wen also urged government departments to be highly attentive to the problems concerning the people's daily lives. The government must improve social welfare work and ensure the basic necessities for people in poverty.

 

He also stressed work safety, instructing government departments to take tough measures to prevent serious accidents and improve food and drug safety.

 

Wen said China had made significant social and economic achievements in 2006, which marked a good start to the country's 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010).

 

But he warned that the State Council should remain clear-headed, face problems and difficulties and be "frank" with the problems of the government in the work report.

 

The government needed to improve administrative capability and firmly fight corruption. "Those who get involved in collusion with business people or trade power for money must by severely punished."

 

He also asked officials to work more efficiently and diligently, be down to earth and stand firmly against extravagance.

 

After thorough discussion, participants to the plenary meeting agreed that the draft work report could be distributed to local governments, government departments and institutions for further discussion.

 

Wen said the report should fully represent the interests, wishes and requests of the general public.

 

He said the government should listen to opinions from different sectors, especially those from the non-Communist parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, people with no party affiliation, officials at grassroots level and the public.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2007)