CPPCC Members on Urbanizing Rural AreasMembers of the Ninth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) expressed their confidence that urbanizing rural areas will forcefully push forward China's national economic development.Member Huang Guancong pointed out, rural urbanization can not only ease the pressure of surplus labor in rural areas, increase farmers' income and promote agricultural structural adjustment, but also curb the flow of rural laborers into big cities and help stimulate national economic development. Members talked about the subject during group discussions on the Outline of the Tenth Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (2001-2005) delivered by Premier Zhu Rongji at the fourth session of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC), in session here since March 5. The Ninth CPPCC National Committee has also been in session in the national capital since March 3. A survey shows that China has built more than 55,000 small cities and towns, turning 100 million rural residents into urbanites. The Chinese Government has decided to construct 10,000 more key small cities and towns early this century, for the purpose of boosting rural development. Rural urbanization is a strategy that has been adopted by many countries to bring along economic and social progress in rural areas. Huang Guancong said, small cities and towns should be developed in accordance with local economic strength, population size and other specific conditions, so that land and other resources can be appropriately utilized. Members also voiced their opinions on environmental protection, making good use of local special resources and maintaining a good social order in small cities and towns. Statistics show that China's small cities and towns now produce one quarter of the national GDP. |
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