The Chinese government announced Monday its goals, tasks and policies for economic restructuring and scientific innovation for the next five years, ahead of its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), due before the end of the year.
The State Development Planning Commission issued a special plan for the key areas for advancement before accession to the WTO under the 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-05).
The special programs put forward the orientation, priorities and major policies for the reform and restructuring of the agricultural and industrial sectors, and parts of the service industry.
The government has drafted special plans for a dozen key areas, including accession to the WTO, transportation, energy, environmental protection, science and technology, information technology, education, high-tech industries, population, development of the western regions of China, water conservancy and urbanization.
The WTO program analyses the impact of WTO accession on China.
It states that China will face two serious challenges: One is to change the way the government acts and; the other is the impact of equal market access on Chinese enterprises.
According to WTO rules, the country has to overhaul government policies, regulations, and the administrative and macro-economic control systems. On the other hand, market access, which centers on tariff cuts, elimination of non-tariff barriers and opening up the service sector, will affect a number of Chinese industries and enterprises. This will give rise to some macro-economic problems, according to the special plan.
To resolve these problems, the Chinese Government is planning to develop an administrative system that will be in line with both market rules and WTO regulations in the next five years.
At the same time, China will greatly improve the international competitiveness of its industries and enterprises, establish an equal market-access system and develop a macro-economic control system that is effective and in conformity with international practices.
According to the special plan, the government will accelerate the readjustment of domestic laws and regulations. The nation will also strengthen the rule of law, reduce administrative inefficiency, and overhaul finance and investment mechanisms.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Government will put an end to industrial monopolies and local protectionism, fulfil its commitments under the WTO system, open China wider to the outside world, accelerate the reform of taxation, promote innovation, encourage advances in science and technology, and create new jobs.
(China Daily August 7, 2001)
