Q: The Chinese Government put forward the goal of
building a well-off society in an all-around way right after
China's transformation from poverty to adequate subsistence at the
end of last century. How many aspects are there to this goal and
how will the Chinese Government lead its people to achieve
it?
A: On the whole, the Chinese people began to enjoy comparatively
well-off standard of living in 2000 after 20 years of reform and
opening up, which is a marvelous achievement in the history of
China. However, the government is fully aware that this standard is
still at a relatively low level, is not all-inclusive and is very
uneven. There are still 30 million people who are not adequately
fed and clad in China's central and western regions and some rural
areas, and some urban residents live below the poverty line. These
people are far from being well off. In this regard, the government
arrived at the goal of building a well-off society in an all-around
way to accomplish common prosperity for all people of the
nation.
The goal, which conforms to the country's national conditions
and its ongoing modernization drive, as well as the aspiration of
the general public, is expected to take about 50 years to
accomplish by three phases.
The period between 2000-10 is the primary stage, with the
objective of maintaining the sustained, rapid and sound development
of the national economy, doubling the GDP of the year 2000, and
enabling the Chinese people, especially those in the rural areas,
to enjoy a better-off life.
The period between 2010-20 is the mid-term stage, with the
objective of rural residents generally leading an overall affluent
life following the development of rural industrialization and
urbanization, and urban residents gaining further prosperity. At
this stage, a wealthy society will be achieved.
The period between 2020-50 is the late stage, by which time,
China will have realized its general objective to accomplish
modernization by and large and grown into a prosperous, strong,
democratic and culturally advanced socialist country with a
development level approaching that of medium-level developed
countries.
In building a well-off society in an all-around way, it is
imperative for China to vigorously develop the rural economy and
increase the income of farmers, as it is a developing country where
farmers constitute the majority of its population. Without the
rural population living a well-off life, can the target of a
well-off China never be achieved; likewise, China will never
accomplish national modernization unless its rural areas attain
modernization. Meanwhile, we will also push forward urbanization in
an energetic and steady manner, and further our effort in
developing the western region, accelerating the economic
development of west China and intensifying development-oriented
poverty reduction program. To eliminate poverty and narrow the gap
between the east and the west will remain a major task for the
Chinese Government in the first two decades of this century.
With a view to achieving the well-rounded development of its
people, China is working to build a sound national education system
and a technological and cultural innovation system, which will
provide its people with a better education and help uplift their
scientific and educational attainments.
The first two decades of the 21st century are an important
period of strategic opportunity for China. During this period, we
will concentrate on building a well-off society of a higher
standard in an all-round way to the benefit of more than 1 billion
people. We will further develop the economy, improve democracy,
advance science and education, enrich culture, foster social
harmony and upgrade the texture of life for the people. Then, at
the middle of this century, when China's modernization is wholly
realized, we will witness a much stronger country and a more
prosperous society.
China's economic development is uneven.
Pictured is a rural family in Henan Province which cannot afford
farming machines.
?
