Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao stressed the need to control land
usage Tuesday and approved a series of labor and social security
regulations for the 11th Five Year Plan from 2006 to 2010.
He made the remarks at the State Council meeting held here,
insisting that regions pay more attention to land coverage, energy
consumption and pollution.
Wen cited continuing problems in land management, such as the
allocation of too much for construction purposes, illegal land use,
and abuse of farming land. He stated that more concrete measures
should be adopted to control land usage, including reinforcing the
legal system, adjusting profitability mechanisms and developing
accountability.
He also said it is the government's duty to promote employment
and social security. From 2006 to 2010, China will create 45
million jobs in urban areas, reemploy 45 million laborers in rural
areas and endeavor to restrict the urban unemployment rate to five
percent.
(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2006)
