'Development Is Absolute Principle' Interpreted

Only through development will China able to solve all problems on the road of advance, according to Gao Shangquan, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top advisory body.

Gao, a visiting scholar in the Stanford University of the United States and a noted economist, said, "Development is the absolute principle and constitutes the key to solving all problems confronting China."

He pointed out that China must maintain a fairly high economic growth rate to attain its modernization goals, solve all problems and contradictions in economic and social life, and steadily uplift people’s living standard.

For example, in the economic adjustment, China faces an enormous employment pressure. Calculations show that with one percentage point increase in the GDP means adding four million jobs.

“This indicates that deep-rooted contradictions in the economic structure can be solved only via development,” he said.

Viewed from the international environment, science and technology in the world are developing by leaps and bounds,

economic globalization and information technology are growing at a fast pace, and international competition is becoming increasingly fierce.

Gao said, “Under these circumstances, we must speed up development, with no other way out. So, taking development

as the theme meets the requirements of the times.”

He went on to say: “Only on the basis of economic growth, will we be able to substantially uplift people’s living standard, so that the Chinese people will move toward a more relatively comfortable living standard.”

“What is the purpose of reforms, development or structural adjustment?” he posed the question.

“The answer is to constantly improve people’s living standard. This is the starting point and ultimate objective of all our work,” he said.

That also serves as the driving force behind expanding domestic demand, and maintaining rapid, sustained and sound economic growth. It is also crucial to balancing the relationship between reform, development and stability.

This guideline finds full expression in Premier Zhu Rongji report to the annual session of the National People’s Congress, he said.

For example, the premier called for every effort to be made to promptly improve the social security system, increase employment, and constantly increase residents’incomes, particularly those of low-income people.

“All this is essential to the overall situation of reforms, development and stability,” he said.

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