China to Cope with 12 Centennial Challenges

People's Daily Overseas Edition listed 12 daunting challenges China will have to cope with in the 21st century. These challenges are:

1. Population pressure, rising from an estimated 1.6 billion by the 2030s;

2. Threat to domestic economy and national security from developing international competition and cooperation in face of increased pressure from developed countries making most of their economic/hi-tech advantages;

3. No alternative but to rely on sci-tech advance, resources saving, fair just distribution, controlled moderate consumption and ecological balance for sustained development irrespective of a shortage of resources and deteriorated ecosystems;

4. To march with a new economic structure, under a new economic system, and a new form for economic growth along with the carrying out of industrialization of traditional industrial lines and undertaking of informationalization and intellectualization construction;

5. A gradual narrowing down of development gaps between eastern and western China, differences between town and country, and income gaps between rich and poor;

6. Goals set to build China into a medium-level developed country by the mid 21st century;

7. The stupendous task to build China into a medium-level developed country and one with raised sci-tech capabilities among world top ten by 2010;

8. To work for a great raise of cultural and educational levels and a multitude of talents to help China's economic and social construction;

9. Strivings to do a good job of design and of social, urban and rural, education and science research infrastructure construction in advance;

10. A national innovation system to get into being, developed and run with fullest part to play;

11. For the rise of improved socialist democracy and a well operated legal system;

12. To fight against world hegeminism and power politics plaguing world peoples.

(Source: People's Daily Overseas Edition Dec. 9, 2000)



By PD Online staff Huang Ying


People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/