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)