Hebei Province Sets Growth TargetHebei province in north China has set its average annual economic growth target during 2001-2005 at 8-9 percent, Governor Niu Maosheng said Wednesday.The growth rate of the province's gross domestic product (GDP) should be higher than the national average during the five years, but lower than the average growth rate of 11 percent during the past five years, the governor said. To reach the target, Niu, now in Beijing at the annual NPC session, said the province plans to expand investment, consumption and export during the coming five years. The province will deepen the reform of State-owned enterprises to set up a modern enterprise system, while doing a good job of government restructuring and social welfare system reform, and improve the system for market economy, said the governor. Hebei will carry out the strategy of opening up the Beijing- Tianjin-rim and Bohai-rim and enhance its international competitiveness, the strategy of invigorating Hebei by relying on science and technology, and the strategy of a sustainable and coordinated development among population, resources and environment. Niu said Hebei also plans to increase farmers' income by optimizing the structure of agriculture and the rural economy, promoting non-agricultural activities and lighten the financial burdens on farmers. During the five years, Hebei will correct the economic order, create an open and stable environment, improve socialist culture, democracy, and law and order while stepping up efforts to control and prevent pollution and desertification. |
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