China Sets Target for Economic Work in 2001China will strive for a "sustained, rapid and sound" development of the national economy and overall social progress in 2001 to create a positive start for the accomplishment of the 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-2005).This goal was announced Thursday, November 30, at the end of the three-day Central Economic Working Conference. "The year 2001 will be the first year in the new millennium for China to implement the country's 10th Five-Year Plan," the conference noted. "It's a crucial year for China to maintain an upbeat growth momentum and at the same time, step up reform and opening up," it stressed. China is faced with a "comparatively favorable domestic and international environment" for development. Internationally, peace and development remain the main theme of the era, making it possible for China to seek a long-term, peaceful international environment. Internally, China has maintained rapid economic growth over the past twenty years and the country's productivity has reached a new level, the conference noted. The Proposal for Formulating the 10th Five-year Plan (2001-2005) for National Economic and Social Development, put forward at the Fifth Plenum of the 15th CPC Central Committee, has outlined the blueprint for China in five to ten years' time and will be carried out with the efforts of all people, the conference said. The conference stressed that China will seek every opportunity to speed up economic development. A pro-active fiscal policy and sound monetary policies will be implemented to stimulate domestic demand, and macro-economic measures will be carried out to consolidate the current development situation. China will further promote the restructuring of the national economy and the application of information technology in the industrial sector, the conference stressed. More support will be given to the agricultural sector to consolidate its status as a basic industry and farmers' income will be increased. China will step up enterprise reforms to transform management mechanisms and enhance the competitiveness of State-owned enterprises. Moreover, China will make thorough preparation for its entry into the World Trade Organization by opening up further to the outside world. Social security systems will be established to create job opportunities and improve people's lives. In all, China will properly handle the relations between reform and stability to achieve overall development in 2001. |
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