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Recently many foreign media carried news reports or editorials
on China's ongoing NPC and CPPCC sessions. These reports covered a
wide range of hot issues but most of them are focused on the five
most crucial questions -- problems facing agriculture, rural areas
and farmers (or "the three farm-related aspects"); economy,
Constitution amendment, diplomacy and anti-corruption.
Rural problems -- lowered tax promised to boost rural
economy
American mainstream newspapers like the New York Times,
the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and
the Associated Press (AP) all zoomed in on China's problems
stressing on agriculture, rural areas and farmers. They say the
three farm-related aspects occupied a large part in Premier Wen's
government work report, speaking highly of the premier's remarks
with regard to these problems.
In an article entitled "China's new priorities: farmer and
land", AP said that after an effort of more than two decades to
boost urban prosperity, China's leadership defined on Friday that
they would shift their attention and resources onto tens of
thousands Chinese citizens toiling on the soil.
An article of the New York Times reads "Chinese leaders
urge to shift development focus to rural areas" and a Wall
Street Journal article entitled "China begins to show concern
for disadvantaged groups in economic development". American media
believes that Premier Wen's full attention to rural problems
reflects a "human-orientated" social development concept.
However, British media laid their focuses on the phase-out of
agricultural tax within five years. In a report entitled "Chinese
Premier promises tax-cutting to boost rural economy", the
Financial Times said Premier Wen declared the country will
lower its agricultural tax by over one percentage point each year
and get rid of it within five years. The measure indicates the
Chinese government's pursuit to distribute the wealth in a more
even way, which, if implemented, would greatly push forward the
nation's rural economy.
Japan's Tokyo Shimbun reported that the three
farm-related aspects prove to be a focus of the NPC session this
year. The government will not only ease the tax burden on farmers
but will also work out a subsidy policy for them.
French paper Le Figaro said that China now is in urgent
need to "mend cracks in society" and must pay attention to the
problem of farmer's low-income growth. The report also said the
Chinese government is to make great efforts in this regard, such as
to increase 20 percent fund for improving rural infrastructure and
cracking down on abuse of land proprietary rights.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) said in a report
entitled "Chinese government promises increase of farmer's income"
that the Chinese government promised at the NPC meeting to solve
the widening urban-rural gap. One of its goals this year is to
increase its 900 million farmers' income by five percent.
Thailand-based Asia New Time carried an editorial
entitled "Being human-oriented and responsible for people" on March
6, saying that the "three farm-related aspects" is on top of the
eight major tasks for this year put forward in the government work
report. This is a piece of news very inspiring as well as a hope
for a further development of China's farmers, agriculture and rural
areas.
Economy --being "human oriented" and an introspection on
GDP
Sing Tao Daily, a Chinese-language newspaper printed in
Britain, ran a special report reading "Being human-oriented and
reflect on GDP", saying people is no longer enthusiastic in
predicting the GDP growth rate this year. Since the new leadership
called for an overall, coordinated and sustainable development
concept, China is re-estimating GDP in a more scientific and
rational viewpoint and seeking for human-oriented development
objectives.
The government work report set the GDP growth rate for this year
at around 7 percent, the Guardian commented. This shows
that the Chinese government is trying to slow down the economy a
bit and expand the benefits brought by economic prosperity from
eastern coastal areas to other regions, especially to inland rural
areas.
In a March 6 article named "China seeking for ways to get rid of
disadvantages brought about by fast growing economy", Japan
Economic News said that China prepares to give priority to
rural areas, western and northeastern regions when distributing
funds raised through issuing national debt.
ROK-based Korea Daily said that after 25 years' opening
up China's economic policy has shifted from high-speed growth to
stressing on stability and balance. In his government work report,
Premier Wen made it clear that the policy task this year is for
stable economic growth, rural exploration, balanced development
between regions and sustainable development. This proves that the
Chinese government has stopped seeking for one-sided growth, but
focused on stabilizing the people's livelihood by considering
population, resources and environment factors in economic
development, increasing farmer's income, developing backward areas
and creating more jobs.
The Russian media not only covered the two sessions, but also
took the chance to introduce China's dramatic changes since the
reform and opening up two decades ago. Izvestia said
China's GDP increased by five times since 1978, with the annual
growth rate reaching 9.1 percent and per capita GDP soaring from
US$619 to 1000 dollars. Both China's consumption of steel and coal
exceeded those of the United States and this year the Chinese
people plans to buy 4 million cars.
Constitutional amendment -- enhanced ability for
constructing political civilization
Two items attracted wide attention in the Constitution revision
this year are respect for and protection of human rights, and
protection of citizens' lawful private property.
Devoting a large part to the constitutional amendment, the
New York Times on March 5 published an article by its
journalist in Beijing, saying that the Chinese government is making
efforts to strengthen its code of law by adding respect for human
rights and protection of private property into the
Constitution.
America-based Chinese-language newspaper Sing Tao USA
gave a detailed list of main points about and suggestions to the
revision this time. On top of putting the important thought "Three
Represents" into the Constitution, the protection of citizens'
rights is also raised to an unprecedented constitutional height.
The paper analyzed and commented on four items concerning concrete
citizen rights out of the 14 suggestions in the amendment proposal
by the CPC central committee, saying they will serve an inestimable
motive force for China's economic and social development in the
future. Putting "The state respects and protects human rights" into
the Constitution, the report particularly pointed out, not only
serves as a summary in law of past successful practices in the
human rights field, but also establishes the principle as a basic
norm in the work of all state organs.
The China Press carried an editorial hailing the
opening of the two sessions, saying that the entry of human rights
article into the Constitution indicates higher human rights
implementation as well as a stronger ability to construct political
civilization.
Entitled "China's private property not to be deprived", an
article by a French newspaper said the NPC annual session is
preparing for a fourth revision to the Constitution to better
protect private property.
Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany) said that the amendment this
time is the fourth revision to the country's 1982 Constitution. The
"Three Represents" important thought will be put into the
Constitution and placed at the same footing with Marxism-Leninism,
Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory.
Diplomacy -- international environment established to
ensure paying attention to internal affairs
Many foreign media expressed interest in China's diplomatic
achievements.
When mentioning Premier Wen's government work report, the
Associated Press of Pakistan stressed that China persists in an
independent foreign policy of peace, believing that in the past
year China won more understanding, trust, respect and support from
the international community, with its international influence and
status further lifted. The report highly praised China's
development strategy of rising peacefully, holding high the banner
of peace, development and cooperation, pushing forward friendly
contacts and cooperation with countries in the world, deepening
cooperation with developing countries in particular and supporting
alliance among and self-reliance of vast developing countries. The
report praised China's policy of good neighborliness and
partnership, saying the country made active contributions to
deepening friendly contacts with neighboring countries and
maintaining regional peace and stability.
A Switzerland newspaper carried a long article saying Chinese
leaders as Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao have strengthened cooperation
with multilateral international organizations and further improved
relations with their Asian neighbors. Beijing hosted the six-party
talks in its diplomatic efforts to solve the Korean Peninsula
nuclear issue. China's relations with India and EU are also
improved.
Japan's Mainichi Shimbum also commented on China's
remarkable diplomatic achievements on March 6. The government work
report approved the diplomatic work in the past year, the report
said, saying much progress was made in foreign related work and
China's international status and influence further lifted. As a
Chinese leader, President Hu Jintao for the first time attended the
North-South Leaders' Informal Dialogue Meeting held in France last
June. Premier Wen Jiabao visited the United States last December
and President Bush made remarks opposing "Taiwan referendum".
Acting as host of the six-party talks China has done an
unprecedented good job in stabilizing China-US relations. The
government work report showed confidence in the international
environment already set up in which attention can be given to
internal affairs.
Anti-corruption -- government should conscientiously
accept supervision from public opinion and the masses
Japan's Tokyo Shimbum carried an article entitled "Wen
Jiabao shows determination to root out corruption", saying his
government work report demonstrates the Chinese government's
determination to resolutely root out corruption. Premier Wen
stressed that all power comes from the people, the article said,
and the government should conscientiously accept supervision from
public opinion and the masses, and suggestions from all sides must
be heard and considered before important policies are launched.
In its article entitled "CPPCC member suggests system to 'take
blame and resign'", BBC highlighted CPPCC member Wu Zhengde's
suggestion to set up a system to "take blame and resign" for civil
servants, so that the government and civil servants can be
responsible for their behaviors and prevent the abuse of power.
This is a matter worth attention, the report concluded.
French newspaper Nouvelles D'europe said that last year
the Chinese government worked even harder to fight corruption, with
13 corrupted officials of provincial or ministerial levels
investigated and disciplined. Not long ago the CPC Central
Committee put out its internal supervision regulation, and concrete
and effective anti-corruption measures are expected from the two
sessions.
Compared with 2003, China's corruption has been much curbed
according to a survey conducted on March 4 among foreign business
managers, AFP reported.
(People's Daily March 12, 2004)
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