Premier Zhu Reports on Government Work (III)

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, March 05, 2002

Premier Zhu Reports on Government Work (III)

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji delivered the Report on the Work of the Government to the Fifth Session of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC), which opened at the Great Hall of the People Tuesday morning. The report falls into eight parts in about 15,000 Chinese characters.

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Promoting Spiritual Civilization

Premier Zhu Rongji Tuesday stressed the importance to promote spiritual civilization, while delivering the Report on the Work of the Government at the opening of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC).

Zhu called for unremitting efforts to educate all the cadres and the people in Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thinking of "The Three Represent 's," saying "We will continue to run the country by virtue as well as by law."

The "Citizens' Code of Conduct" will be implemented to encourage all the people to develop the basic virtues of "patriotism and observance of law; courtesy and honesty; solidarity and friendship; diligence, frugality and self-improvement; and devotion and contribution," according to the premier.

It is important to emphasize education in patriotism and promote the national spirit of rejuvenating China; work hard to disseminate scientific knowledge; to dispel ignorance and superstition; and to encourage people to be more scientifically minded and have enlightened, healthy lifestyles.

China will promote mass activities to cultivate spiritual civilization, he said.

China will step up the development of social sciences, literature and art, the press and publishing, radio, film and television, and other cultural undertakings, so as to maintain the correct orientation of public opinion and produce more and better works that reflect the spirit of the times and the wishes of the people.

He called for greater efforts to reform the press and publishing, radio, film and television industries, attaching great importance to the role of Internet services and management.

China will protect cultural relics and build more libraries, museums, cultural centers, science and technology centers, archives and other public cultural and sports establishments, he said.

The government will improve policies for industries related to culture and encourage non-government sectors to participate in cultural undertakings.

Persistent efforts will be put into the fight against pornography and other illegal products, and the government will severely crack down on piracy and smuggling of video disks, the premier said.

China will increase cultural exchanges with other countries, he added.

Zhu Calls for Further Government Reform

Premier Zhu Rongji has called for furthering ideological emancipation, shaking off the fetters of the traditional planned economy, and transforming government functions into economic regulation, market supervision, social management and public service.

Further transforming government functions is needed to adapt to the new situation in the reform and opening up and to build an honest, diligent, pragmatic and efficient government, he noted.

In his report, the premier said that great progress has been made in reforming government institutions and in transforming government functions, but many problems remain to be solved.

Zhu called for clearer division of responsibilities among government departments to prevent cases like shifting one's responsibility to others or having no one to take responsibility. China should conscientiously implement the basic principle of "running the country according to law", perform official duties lawfully and managing the government by high standards, he said.

The government will deepen the reform, reduce the scope of administrative examination and approval, standardize and simplify necessary approval procedures, stress openness and transparency, and clearly define responsibilities.

China will accelerate the utilization of information technology in government administration, and promote electronic-administration to improve work efficiency and exercise more effective supervision, he said.

On the issue of improving the work style of the government, the premier pointed out that there is the need to further fight corruption and build a clean government.

Performing official duties honestly and serving the people are requirements that derive from the fundamental purpose of the Party and the government, as well as basic norms that every government functionary must strictly abide by, he stressed.

Governments at all levels and all cadres must stay honest and clean and abide by the law, he said, stressing that the government will thoroughly investigate and prosecute those who have violated the law and discipline, and abused power for personal gains.

He called for getting rid of formalism and bureaucratism, which harm both the country and the people. No effort should be spared to cut the number of meetings and official papers to a minimum, he noted.

He urged all government officials to initiate investigations and studies, go all the way down to the realities of life and among the people to learn their actual conditions, listen to their opinions, share their weal and woe, and lose no time in solving the problems that they resent or are dissatisfied about.

He called for resolutely checking bad practices, such as false reports to deceive one's superiors or subordinates, misuse of the people's financial resources, and coercion. He urged all officials to speak the truth, do solid work, and stress practical results.

Premier Zhu Slashes Extravagant Activities

Premier Zhu Rongji has called for resolutely combating extravagance and waste which, he said, are already a serious problem in production, construction, circulation or consumption.

The government must put an end to the erroneous practice of doing things without considering the actual conditions and probable results, he said, urging all to reduce expenditures and oppose waste.

He criticized some local authorities which like to build ostentatious projects in order to make a good impression or show their achievements. In urban development, they indiscriminately pursue things of the highest grade or standard, he said.

According to the premier, some local authorities launch unfeasible construction projects when they cannot even pay wages on time; some local authorities build luxurious office buildings and halls in violation of relevant regulations; and festivals and ceremonies of every conceivable description are celebrated, during which the hosts vie with one another for lavishness.

He also blamed some officials using public funds for wining and dining, extravagant entertainment and private travel abroad. This misconduct invariably consumes large sums of money, so the government must resolutely stop this tendency, he stressed.

The premier proposed that the government must widely publicize the principles of working in a pioneering way, building the country and doing everything diligently and frugally.

No effort should be spared to cut production, construction and distribution costs, he said.

All regions, departments and work units are obligated to formulate specific targets and measures for eliminating waste and reducing expenditures this year, he noted, stressing that economic and financial discipline must be strictly enforced.

Zhu said that a system of centralized collection and payment by the state treasury will be instituted for this purpose. Control over budgets, auditing and special financial accounts at all levels should be tightened, he said.

He pledged to strengthen the management of revenues that exceed budget forecasts. Cases involving off-books accounts and arbitrary spending in violation of regulations will be investigated and prosecuted severely, according to the premier.

Premier on Defense, Stability

It is of vital importance to ensure national security and social stability in the new circumstances, said Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Tuesday when delivering the Report on the Work of the Government at the opening of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC).

China must take strict precautions against and firmly crack down on, according to law, sabotage by hostile forces both inside and outside China, crack down on criminal activities perpetrated by forces of terrorism, religious extremism and ethnic separatism, and continue to fight Falun Gong and other cults, he said.

"In order to make the entire society significantly safer, we must severely deal with criminal activities and underworld criminal forces in accordance with the law and improve public security where it is weak," the premier stressed.

The premier said that under the principle of combining action with prevention while putting prevention first, the government will implement measures for the all-round improvement of social order, and actively establish a prevention and control system for public security and a mechanism that guarantees that funds are available for operations of procuratorial, judicial and public security organs.

Community development and management and political power at the grass-roots level in rural areas will be strengthened, Zhu said. Contradictions among the people under the new circumstances have to be handled correctly so that factors liable to adversely affect social stability can be eliminated at the grass-roots level while still in the embryonic stage, he noted.

The premier pointed out that the fundamental interests of the people of all ethnic groups lie in strengthening ethnic unity and safeguarding the unification of the country.

The government will adhere to and improve the system under which ethnic minority groups practice self-government in the regions they inhabit; fully implement the Party's policy on ethnic groups and consolidate and develop the socialist relationships of equality, unity and mutual assistance among different ethnic groups; and support and assist the ethnic minority regions to speed up development, according to Zhu.

The government will continue to implement the "Program to Develop Border Areas and Improve the Lives of the People There", he said, adding that great efforts will be made to train cadres and talented personnel from among ethnic minority groups.

He said it is important to implement the Party's policy on freedom of religious belief, administer religious affairs effectively and in accordance with the law, and actively guide various religions to adapt to socialist society.

Religious circles must adhere to the principle of self-administration and running religious affairs independently, and expand the contingent of religious patriots.

The government will conscientiously implement the policy towards overseas Chinese and handle overseas Chinese affairs well.

Zhu made it a point that strengthening national defense and building up the armed forces constitute an important guarantee for national security and the smooth development of China's socialist modernization drive.

In line with the general requirements of "being qualified politically and competent militarily, having a fine style of work, maintaining strict discipline and being assured of adequate logistical support," and taking the military strategy of active defense for the new era as the guideline, China will strengthen the armed forces through science and technology, run the armed forces by high standards and concentrate on quality without neglecting thrift.

This aims at building a more modernized, standardized and revolutionary army and improving its effectiveness in wars to defend the country and in handling emergency situations when the use of high technologies has become predominant in warfare, Zhu said.

He said that China will accelerate the restructuring, reform and development of its defense industry, raise the level of scientific research and innovation and promote the development of weaponry and equipment.

The reform of logistical services must be deepened to achieve better performance of the military economy and provide more effective comprehensive support.

Work will be done to strengthen the People's Armed Police; improve the national defense mobilization system; consolidate the militia and reserve forces; improve national defense education; encourage the armed forces to support the government and cherish the people, encourage the people to support the army, and give preferential treatment to families of service people and martyrs; and consolidate and strengthen unity between the army and the government and between the army and the people.

Premier on China's Foreign Policy for 2002

China will continue to pursue an independent foreign policy of peace in the new year, said Premier Zhu Rongji in his report.

On the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, China will strengthen solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries, further consolidate and deepen good-neighborly friendship and cooperation with surrounding countries, and continue to improve and develop the relations with developed countries, Zhu said.

China will play an active part in the affairs of the United Nations and other international affairs, stand with people of all other countries for the cause of peace, development and progress and against hegemony, power politics and terrorism in all its forms, promote the establishment of a just and reasonable new international political and economic order, and make even greater contributions to the maintenance of world peace and promotion of common prosperity.

The premier said that the international situation changed dramatically in 2001. However, peace and development are still the main themes of the times, and the trend toward a multi-polar world remains unchanged, he stressed.

Zhu said that China's international environment is still one more of opportunity than of challenge. He said that the general picture of the international situation for a period of time to come will be that of overall peace and local warfare, overall relaxation and local tension, and overall stability and local turbulence.

The premier said that amid the changes in international relations, China's diplomatic work has entered a new stage, and its international status and influence continue to rise.

China and other developing countries have strengthened their friendly relations. The good-neighborly friendship and cooperation between China and its surrounding countries have enjoyed all-round development.

In July last year, China, Russia and four Central Asian countries jointly announced the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. At the Fifth China-ASEAN Summit, the two sides agreed to gradually establish a China-ASEAN free trade zone in the next 10 years.

The relations between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea and South Asian countries have developed steadily. China's friendly relations and cooperation with African and Latin American countries have made fresh progress, and China's friendly relations with the Arab states and other Islamic countries have been further improved.

The premier pointed out that development and improvement have been achieved in China's relations with the U.S., Russia, the European Union and Japan.

China is participating actively and pragmatically in multilateral diplomatic activities in the international political, economic, cultural, social and disarmament arenas, firmly safeguarding its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, national security and national dignity.

China has joined the international community in condemning and fighting terrorism and is playing a constructive role in the international counter-terrorism struggle, he said.

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Premier Zhu Reports Government Work (I)

Premier Zhu Reports Government Work (II)

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