The goals set by the three-year government program on the reform of state-owned enterprises are sure to be fulfilled, if all the relevant central policies, especially those concerning the establishment of the modern corporate system and transition of managerial mechanism, are conscientiously implemented.

Premier Zhu Rongji made the remark this morning while joining a panel discussion of deputies from northeastern Liaoning Province at the current annual session of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC).

Premier Zhu praised the achievements scored in restructuring local state-owned enterprises Liaoning, one of the oldest and largest industrial bases in the country, where the enterprise reform has gained momentum over the past two years.

It is inevitable that some factory employees have to be laid off because of the closure of some long-term loss-makers, Zhu said, urging local governments at different levels to help the layoffs in strict accordance with the relevant state policies. All the necessary funds for resettling the layoffs must be allocated on time, he stressed.

Meanwhile, special attention must be paid to strengthening ideological work among the layoffs, as part of the effort to maintain social stability, he noted.

To build and further improve a social security system represents an urgent need in carrying out in-depth development of the reform of the state-owned enterprises and a fundamental measure for safeguarding social stability, Zhu noted, adding that the related work should be placed at an important position and must be done quickly and better still.