Speaking at the Second China-Europe Senior Forum on Government
Management in Beijing on Tuesday, Chen Fujin, vice president of the
China National School of Administration, said that China has made
improvements in the social development sphere, spending a total of
245.2 billion yuan (US$30.3 billion) on social services and social
security in 2004.
Chen said in 2004 China's central budget spending for science
and technology, education, culture, health and sports amounted to
98.7 billion yuan (some US$12.2 billion), an increase of 15 percent
over the previous year, and a total of 146.5 billion yuan (some
US$18.1 billion) was spent on social security, an increase on 18.1
percent from the previous year.
More than 200 Chinese and European government officials and
experts gave lectures and exchanged views on social management
innovations at the three-day forum.
Increased spending on developing social services in rural areas
has produced positive results, Chen said, adding that central
government gave out 3.2 billion yuan (some US$0.4 billion) in
disaster relief subsidies in the last year, providing assistance to
about 68 million people.
Chen said that the Chinese' awareness of democracy and law
continues to improve, as does creativity shown when participating
in social development affairs. In addition, governments have opened
more channels for people to express their ideas and
requirements.
But it is not enough, Chen noted, saying China is still a
developing country with a large population and a weak economic
foundation, and productivity has not reached balanced development.
Great differences still exist between cities, towns and villages,
with social development lagging behind economic development, along
with various other social problems.
This forum was co-sponsored by China National School of
Administration and the European Institute of Public Administration.
The first forum was held in June 2004 in Beijing.
(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2005)