Leadership to adjust growth model (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2005-10-10 09:56 China's top Communist Party officials at
a plenary meeting in Beijing are expected to adopt the "11th five-year
plan" for economic and social development from 2006-2010, which will center on
more even wealth distribution among its citizens.
An armed police officer stands guard before
the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing October 7, 2005.
[newsphoto] | The concept of "scientific development," first put forward by President Hu
Jintao, will be enshrined into the plan. Beijing is also calling for
the building of a society that will improve the lives of millions of farmers and
poor urban dwellers currently left out of the country's economic boom, and
therefore eradicating the roots of social unrest, observers said.
Despite the Party awoken to the inequity concern, it is unclear what can be
done to help the poor. Some economists have said China is witnessing a stage of
economic development in which many people are going to be left behind, raising
the danger of unrest.
An editorial in the The People’s Daily Saturday noted that life had improved
for all classes of Chinese society, including farmers, as a result of the
changes. But problems have cropped up in the past two years, it said, adding
that China must make "macroeconomic adjustments" in the next stage so the
machine runs more smoothly.
The new Five-Year growth roadmap, is expected to put greater emphasis on
sustainable but relatively fast, non-wasteful and environmentally-friendly
growth.
President Hu Jintao, who is general secretary of the ruling Party, has
chaired the crucial meeting.
The scientific development concept will become the guiding theory for
building a "harmonious society," said Yan Shuhan, a professor with the Central
Party School.
They are discussing the country's five-year development plan, with the view
of seeking "sustainable, healthy, co-ordinated and rapid development," Yan said.
The focus of the proposed five-year plan indicates the Party and the
Government have awoken to the problems with the model of growth China has been
following for the past 27 years since economic reforms were launched in 1978.
China has relied largely on manufacturing low value added products for other
countries, using its land, natural resources and labor, the Xinhua news agency
said.
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