A People's Daily editorial published on November 6 calls for lifting China's product quality up to a new level.

The editorial says that China's economy has entered into a new phase of growth, where major commodities have shifted from the sellers' market to the buyers' market.

"The work to raise product quality constitutes the direction of the main attack at a crucial juncture of the economic restructure of the Chinese economy, the editorial says.

Improving and upgrading product quality is not only vital for meeting the needs of the domestic market, expanding exports and improving the whole economic performance, but is also essential for fulfilling the country's lofty cross-century objective to enhance the comprehensive national strength and international competitiveness.

Since the convocation of the last national meeting on product quality in 1992, the editorial notes, the country's quality management has been beefed up, its overall product quality greatly improved and the quality of some products have even met or been approaching to the world's advanced level.

However, there remains a big gap between the present quality of products and the economic development and world advanced standards. Poor quality has had a negative impact on economic development and the improvement of the people's lives.

The editorial further acknowledges that it is imperative to fully recognize the importance and urgency of enhancing the country's product quality management and quality of products.

"Quality responsibility is weightier than Mount Tai," the editorial says, and leading officials of government at all levels should attach close importance to and render an enthusiastic support to quality supervision.

Moreover, the editorial says, it is imperative to further improve the quality control mechanisms, step up technical renovation, enhance government supervision and law enforcement in the process of raising product quality.

In the meantime, monitoring and spot-checking the quality of products should be conducted on a continuous basis, especially those major products that are vital to people's livelihood and national economy.

The editorial notes that improving product quality hinges upon the effective punishment of criminal activities of producing and marketing shoddy goods.

Those businesses and their managers held responsible for manufacturing and marketing poor-quality products should be brought to justice. "The businesses should put to a halt and their licenses be revoked," the editorial says.

Despite efforts over the past several years, China has not effectively checked the manufacturing and marketing of shoddy and low-quality goods, which in some places is still rampant.

"If we sit idle and do nothing about it, the country will have no hope," the editorial warns, noting that it is a must to step up efforts to fight against the production and marketing of shoddy goods, and mete out resolute blows at those criminals who violate the law.

Finally, the editorial calls for joint efforts of all society, composed mainly of industrial enterprises, as well as increased guidance and supervisory management by government departments.