Premier Wen Jiabao has described the country's goal of doubling
its year 2000 per capita gross domestic product (GDP) figure by
2010 as "active and prudent."
The goal is based on an overall consideration of economic
performance from 2001 to 2005 and conditions for development in the
coming five years, he said in his explanation, released yesterday,
on a proposal on the 11th Five-Year Guidelines at the Fifth Session
of the 16th Communist Party of China Central Committee last
week.
The plan draws up the nation's 2006-2010 economic and social
blueprint.
Wen described the goal of reducing energy costs per unit GDP by
20 percent in the coming five years as "achievable."
This reflects the requirement for the building of an
energy-saving and environmentally-friendly society and sustainable
development, he said.
Wen acknowledged that in recent years, the speed of energy
consumption was faster than economic growth, showing that there is
still much potential for saving energy and raising the efficiency
of energy use.
China's economy expanded at 9.5 percent in the first half of the
year and is widely expected to see only a slight slowdown in
2006.
But the economy, Wen warned, rides excessively on increased
investment and material input. The inefficient growth pattern,
sparking increasingly acute contradictions between resources and
the environment, "can no longer continue," the premier said.
Wen highlighted the "scientific concept of development,"
indicating the shift in the government's development
philosophy.
The proposal of the CPC Central Committee is based on the
"scientific concept of development" that will also be the guide in
the whole process of China's reform and opening-up drive, he
said.
In his explanation, the premier also called for more efforts to
build a harmonious society, saying that employment, social
security, poverty reduction, education, medical care, environmental
protection and safety will be given priority.
He said that employment will remain a tough issue for a long
period of time to come, so China has to carry out pro-active
employment policies and try every means to create job
opportunities.
On social security, the premier called for further efforts to
improve the pension system, basic medical care, unemployment,
industrial injuries and maternity care, to earnestly resolve the
social security issue for migrant farmer workers in cities, and to
set up a security system of minimum living standards for rural
areas.
(China Daily October 20, 2005)