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Wen pledges prosperity for all
By Xing Zhigang (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-03-06 05:37
"Building a new socialist countryside is a major historic task," Wen said
while stressing the guiding principles of "industry replenishing agriculture and
the cities supporting the countryside."
He said the government will spend 339.7 billion yuan (US$42.2 billion) this
year and billions more in the future on upgrading agriculture and rural social
services.
The government "will make a major change" to shift its priority in
infrastructure investment from cities to the countryside to improve farmers'
living conditions, he added.
The premier hailed the "epoch-making significance" of the government's goal
of scrapping the 2,600-year-old agricultural tax throughout the country starting
this year.
But he cautioned that building a new socialist countryside is "a long-term
arduous task" and should not be pushed with a herd mentality.
Cai Mingzhao (bottom,
Center), vice-minister of the Information Office of the State Council
listens to a government work report by Premier Wen Jiabao at the
opening of the National People's Congress (NPC) in the Great Hall of the
People to attend in China's capital Beijing March 5,
2006. [Xinhua] |
Turning to the problems of most concern to the public, Wen said the
government will "address people's concerns and ease their fears about the
future" by improving social security and providing more affordable hospitals,
housing and schools.
The central government will increase budget expenditure for nine-year
compulsory education by 218.2 billion yuan (US$27 billion) over the next five
years after waiving tuition and miscellaneous fees for all rural students by
2007, Wen told the deputies.
Meanwhile, the children of low-income urban families and rural families
working in cities will also be given help to ensure all children have access to
compulsory education.
To stimulate domestic demand, Wen said, the government will work to raise
urban and rural incomes and encourage consumption.
And overheated property prices in some cities will be reined in so that
affordable housing can be offered to urbanites, he said.
Wen vowed to increase financial support to help boost employment, create
better medical and social security systems for all the people and improve
workplace safety.
In the wide-ranging speech, the premier also issued another stern warning to
Taiwan about any pro-independence attempt.
"We will uncompromisingly oppose secessionist activities aimed at Taiwan
independence," he said.
"It is the people's will for cross-Straits relations to develop in the
direction of peace, stability and mutual benefit. Anyone who vainly seeks to
destroy this great trend will certainly fail."
On other fronts, the premier said the government will:
accelerate reforms in all sectors and continue making progress in major
reforms;
attach strategic significance to accelerating scientific and technological
development;
improve the pattern and quality of economic growth and accelerate the
development of a resource-conserving and environment-friendly society;
promote balanced development among regions through developing the western,
northeastern and central regions;
improve the democratic system, enrich the forms of democracy, and expand
orderly citizen participation in politics.
(China Daily 03/06/2006 page1)
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