China Sticks to Policy of Developing Economy, Socialist Democracy: Top LegislatorChina will stick to its policy of economic development and improving the socialist legal system to build national strength and contribute to world peace, said Chinese top legislator Li Peng in a speech made at the Indian International Center Saturday.History suggests that only when national sovereignty is free from violation and society free from instability can people concentrate their attention on developing the economy, building national strength and improving living standards, said Li, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC). He noted that China has made enormous progress in economic development in the past 50 years, especially in the last two decades since the reform and opening-up policy was launched by the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. China's economy now grows in a sustainable way and reform is deepened continuously with the aggregate national strength modestly strengthened, he said, adding that China is still a developing country considering its basic national condition. "To continue the modernization drive, realize national reunification and safeguard world peace and promote common development are the three major tasks facing China in the new century," the Chinese legislator stressed. Under a new Five-year Plan for national economic and social development still being drafted, China's GDP will sustain an average annual growth rate of over 7 percent and the GDP will double that of the year 2000, said the Chinese leader, adding that people will enjoy a more comfortable life and a system of socialist market economy will be in place at that time. "China is opposed to hegemonism and will never seek any kind of hegemony itself, and its development will benefit the Chinese people and contribute to world peace," Li emphasized. He also stressed China's policy of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" to advance the reunification of the motherland. It is a basic state policy of China to develop socialist democracy and improve the socialist legal system, he said, adding that China will continue to improve its democracy and legal system, strengthen the system of people's congress and enforced the policy of ruling the country according to law. China's NPC and the Indian Parliament, Li went on to say, can learn from each other despite their different political systems and contacts between the two parliaments can boost the friendship and co-operation between the two countries and two peoples. Li is currently on a week-long official goodwill visit to India starting on Tuesday. |
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