Gan Zhihe, director of Investment Department under the State Economic & Trade Commission, said in an interview that as China's WTO entry is near at hand, it is particularly necessary for us to help raise backbone enterprises' competitiveness, so that they can meet the accelerated objective demand for better technology and equipment in international competition.

He disclosed that the focus of this year's technological renovation work includes the following five aspects:

First, to do a better job in implementing the technological renovation projects supported by State treasury bonds so as to ensure that they go into efficient operation at an early date. With regard to the 880 projects which are now in the crucial period of construction, main efforts should be made to ensure that project funds are in place, and guarantee their construction progress and project quality.

Second, to organize related departments and experts to make conscientious and thorough analysis of key industries and products, their supply-demand situation and structural contradiction, and, on the principle of quality, variety, efficiency and expansion of export, draw up plans oriented toward projects of high quality and efficiency and with optimized structure, and guide the orientation of investments from enterprises, banks and society.

Third, to enhance enterprises' competitiveness, China will select some well-run enterprises and enterprise groups which have a great bearing on national economic development, and give them support in capital, policy and management.

Fourth, to combine technological upgrading with enterprises reform,. Major support should be given to the technical renovation of enterprises undergoing regrouping and reshaping and having a better restructure, so as to form a sound investment decision-making and risk-restricting mechanism.

Fifth, to step up reform of the fixed asset investment management system of industrial and commercial sectors, strengthen and improve macro-control methods to resolutely prevent redundant construction.

(People's Daily 04/02/2001)