12th Five-Year Plan 'indicates China's future'

OTTAWA - Chinese Ambassador to Canada Zhang Junsai said Thursday that China's 12th Five Year Plan tells people about the orientation of China's future development, and encouraged his guests to take a closer look at the plan.

In an event held by the Chinese Embassy to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Canada-China Friendship Society of Ottawa (CCFS-Ottawa), Zhang said the three goals of the plan are to improve Chinese people's livelihood, uplift China's overall national strength and upgrade China's outlook.

He said that China need to create much more social wealth as the growth needs more balance, coordination and sustainability.

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"We want to see happier and better life for all Chinese. We want to make sure that the benefit of our development is shared by all, not by some. We will guarantee that local and central governments will do better in serving people's interests," said the ambassador.

In doing so, China will set aside more money for improving social care services, raise the ratio of income to the GDP by 10 percent over the next three to five years, and ensure that all citizens will have access to a good education, decent income, quality health care, pension and affordable housing, he added.

He also said that on the economic front, the 12th Five Year Plan is about upgrading China's growth model and economic structure.

"We will see an evolution from energy and resources consuming development to low-carbon and green growth. The 12th Five Year Plan is also about making our economy green," he said.

"We encourage foreign investors to channel their capital to high-end manufacturing, high-tech industries, and new energy and environment-friendly projects," he added.

He pointed out that apart from the economic reform, China has also made great achievement in political reform by abandoning class struggles and focused on economic development.

As China moves toward further economic and social development, China-Canada cooperation will be expanded and diversified, making both peoples benefit, he said.

He praised CCFS-Ottawa for their vast efforts to make more Canadians to know about and understand China better, calling them "top experts on China".

"Your just and fair take on China's past and present is changing China's image in the eyes of many Canadians. You understand that China's huge potential comes with major challenges. You care about China's future," said the ambassador.

He hopes to work together with CCFS-Ottawa to deepen people to people exchanges, and help China-Canada partnership move forward in the future.

Lorraine Farkas, president of CCFS-Ottawa, introduced the development of the association in 35 years, and various works they have carried out in making more and more Canadians know more about China.

"The best way to learn about China is to go to China, to visit China. The people there are very friendly and warm," she said.