To further study the spirit of the Fourth Plenum of the 15th CPC Central Committee, the annual meeting of large enterprises '99, organized by the People's Daily, was held in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province between November 26 and 28.

The meeting's analysis of the present situation regarding the reform and development of State-owned enterprises (SOEs) has reinforced confidence in achieving the two major objectives, set by the CPC Central Committee, for completing the task of SOE reform and lifting them out of difficulties in three years. Participants conducted heated discussions on the question about strengthening construction of the ranks of entrepreneurs.. Leaders and representatives from 20-odd enterprises, including the Wuhan Iron and Steel Group Company, the Wuxi Little Swan Co. Ltd. and the Konka Group Company, attended the meeting. Concerned leaders of the People's Daily also attended and spoke at the meeting.

Participants maintained that the Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Some Major Issues Concerning the Reform and Development of State-Owned Enterprises adopted by the Fourth Plenary Session of the 15th CPC Central Committee is a programmatic document guiding the SOE reform and development for a period of time to come.

Speaking about accelerating the construction of entrepreneurs ranks, delegates stressed the need to have a full understanding of the importance of talents, particularly managerial personnel, to the development of SOEs. They also pointed to the need to speed up the establishment and perfection of restraint and incentive mechanisms to stimulate the initiative of entrepreneurs, so that they can display still greater role in SOE reform and development.

Leading members from the Enterprises Department of State Economic and Trade Commission and Wuxi City attended and addressed the meeting.