The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has held a symposium with non-CPC experts to hear their opinions and proposals on the country's economic development.

Invited to the symposium are personages from democratic parties, federations of industry and commerce, and those without party affiliation made comments on the good economic performances in the first year of the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006-2010), giving advice on building a new socialist countryside, renewing modes of economic growth, enhancing innovation, strengthening environmental protection and constructing a harmonious society.

After hearing their remarks, Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said their proposals were insightful and helpful in a very real way ahead of the CPC designing economic plans in the next year.

Hu emphasized the macro-economic policy's continuity and stability, saying adjustments were needed between investment and consumption.

The consumption of residents especially farmers and low-income urban residents should be further expanded, he said.

The goal of establishing a new socialist countryside must be carried out effectively with specific plans and major measures being established so as to raise farmers' income and increase grain production, he said.

Innovation ability should be undertaken to the greatest extent as the strategic basis for scientific and technological development as well as forming the core for economic structure improvement and economic mode transformation, he said.

Breakthroughs should be made in administrative system reform, state-owned enterprises, the tax, financial and investment systems, and more efforts should be made in transforming the foreign trade growth mode to balance export and import, he said.

Hu called for speeding up establishing an energy-efficient and environment-friendly society and building up a harmonious society by tackling problems of grave concern to the general population, such as employment, social security, education, medical treatment, income distribution, work safety and public security.

Further national economic growth requires common efforts by people from the democratic parties, federations of industry and commerce, and those without party affiliation, said Hu.

Premier Wen Jiabao reported on the present economic situation, saying enough attention must be paid to the difficulties and problems in the current economic development.

Wen called for increased efforts to boost reform, opening-up and innovation, to adjust economic structure, and to enhance thrift and environmental protection.

"We should maintain the stable and fast growth of economy, and avoid big ups-and-downs," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 1, 2006)