CHINA: China's annual session of parliament opens in Beijing with a pledge from premier Wen Jiabao to do more for the millions in the countryside

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao opened the nation's annual session of parliament on Monday (March 5)promising to do more for the millions living in the countryside - nearly 60 percent of China's 1.3 billion people. In past years, protests and riots have flared across China's countryside as aggrieved farmers protested corrupt land grabs, lawless officials and stagnating incomes. Wen said China will lift spending on its restless countryside by 15.3 percent to 391.7 billion yuan in 2007, aiming to improve rural schools, hospitals and incomes as it seeks to ease social imbalances, he said. "To promote building a new socialist countryside, we must focus on developing rural economy, and increasing farmers' incomes. We must insist on stabilising and improving the basic system or institutions in the countryside, continue to tailor measures to suit local conditions, proceed from reality and respect farmers' wishes and protect their interests." Wen has made narrowing the chasm between China's bustling coastal cities and struggling inland villages a task that will define his administration's legacy. The need to shun growth for growth's sake and to make China's economy greener and leaner was a recurring theme in the speech. "In setting the target for GDP growth around eight percent for 2007, we have taken into account a number of factors such as demand and possibilities. The most important task for us is to promote sound and fast economic development. The target has been set deliberately to signal the importance of increasing efficiency, saving energy, cutting pollution and avoiding the blind persuit of growth," said Wen. China managed to reduce the amount of energy it used per unit of output by just 1.23 percent last year, well short of its 4 percent goal, and could overtake the United States as the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases as early as 2009. Wen also touched on combating corruption. "In some government offices, and among a small number of their employees, there are problems of bureaucratism, formalism, and isolation from the people, neglect or deriliction of duty, and even abuse of power and corruption. The root cause of these problems lie in institutional deficiencies and poor supervision," he said. Wen also said Beijing was hoping for more dialogue with Taiwan - separately ruled since 1949 when the former Nationalist government retreated to the island "We will continue on the basis of the "one-China" principle, enhance dialogue and communication with various parties in Taiwan which advocate promoting relations across the Strait to seek early resumption of cross-Strait dialogue and negotiations, and push the cross-Strait relationship towards peaceful and stable development." Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian recently further ratcheted up talk of independence from China, saying the the island should pursue independence and change its official title, Wen said that China's military would continue to develop for reasons of national security. "We will actively push forward military form with Chinese characteristics, ensure the high stability and integrity of the military, and safeguard our national safety, unity, and modernisation," said Wen. China recently announced it will boost defense spending by 17.8 percent in 2007, accelerating the emerging power's string of annual double-digit rises in money for a modern military that reflects its economic strength. International experts have estimated that China's true military spending may be three or more times the official figure. Delegates at the opening said they were encouraged by Wen's emphasis on the countryside. "I am more concerned about issues relates to farmers. Premier Wen said in his report that developing modern agriculture relies on technology and reform. We think he made a very good point. We will implement the spirit (of his instruction) in our work," said Xu Ruixia (pron: hsoo rway hsee-ah), delegate from Inner Mongolia. "This is a very good report, it is well-written and it focuses more on the interests of the ordinary people. It is people-friendly, practical report that can bring more benefits to the ordinary people in general," said Shen Anbo (pron: shuhn ahn bwo), delegate from Yunnan province. Around 3,000 delegates will attend the NPC, China's parliament, which is generally seen as a rubber stamp for the ruling Communist Party

ITN Source | March 5, 2007

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