Deputies to the National People's Congress come from all parts of
China and from many walks of life. For some, this will be their
first National Congress to serve for five years as a representative
for the people of their area. For others, it will be business as
usual, in a changing China. To find out how the people of China are
best served by their chosen representatives, china.org.cn takes a
close-up look at the Congress deputies and what concerns they have
for the China of today.
Here we meet Xia Shilin, chairman of the Shenghua Group in Zhejiang
Province, a large privately-owned enterprise involving biological
pesticide production. The enterprise group now has total assets of
over 2 billion yuan and net assets of 980 million yuan.
Q:
What is the issue of most concern to people in your area of
China?
A:
Zhejiang Province has lots of private enterprises. Private
entrepreneurs are now urging the government to put forward
regulations or laws to officially guarantee their properties.
In
addition, there should be more opportunities for private investment
in some fields. Thus, China's abundant private capital can play a
stronger role in promoting the national economy.
Q:
What proposals have you made, or what did you hope to accomplish at
this session?
A:
I've submitted two bills to the First Session of the 10th National
People's Congress. One is on the issue of enterprise honesty and
credit: China should set up a system to record and monitor them.
Second, I propose to revise taxation law. Currently, private
enterprises hand in an enterprise income tax rate of 30 percent,
which is the same as state-owned enterprises (SOEs), but private
entrepreneurs also have to hand in 20 percent personal income tax
when sharing profits.
Q:
What is your opinion of this government's performance to date?
A:
The strategic planning of government has ensured the rapid
development of China's economy and social life in the past five
years. The government put forward many measures to successfully
stimulate its development. Especially, the convening of the 16th
Party Congress has ensured the further development of private
enterprises. With the support of government and the lead of
state-owned enterprises, private enterprises will have a brighter
future.
Q:
What do you think of the institutional restructuring taking place
in the last five years?
A:
The institutional restructuring in the past five years has greatly
improved the government's working efficiency. I believe that
further reform will promote probity and improve the working
efficiency of the government.
I
care most about the establishment of the State Assets Management
Commission. Recently, my enterprise bought a 51 percent share of a
large state-owned enterprise (SOE)in Zhejiang Province. I think
that greater reform should be carried out to develop SOEs, and
private enterprises should actively participate in their
restructuring.
Q:
What is your hope for the future?
A:
China has set a target to become an "affluent" society, in an
all-round way. The gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to be
doubled by 2020. I hope that it can be achieved as earlier as
possible under the leadership of the new administration.
As
an entrepreneur, I'm closely watching the government's policy on
private enterprises. It has greatly promoted the development of
private enterprises in the past five years. However, I still think
that it is necessary to add the status of private enterprise to the
Work Report of the government. Private enterprises should be
granted "national treatment", protected and supported by the
government.
(China.org.cn by Staff Reporter Tang Fuchun, March 16, 2003)
|
