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Premier Zhu's Speech Concerning Poverty Relief Work
Following is the full text of Premier Zhu Rongji's speech delivered on May 25, 2001 at the Central Poverty Relief and Development Working Conference
Just now, Comrade Jiang Zemin has made an important speech in which he comprehensively summarizes the achievements and experiences gained in China's poverty relief and development work over the past 20-odd years, and makes comprehensive and incisive expositions on the guiding thought, main tasks and the important issues needed to be properly grasped for the poverty relief and development work in the early new century. At the beginning of the conference, Comrade Wen Jiabao made a work report. At the conference, the participants studied and discussed China's Rural Poverty Relief and Development Program (2001-2010). This conference is crowned with success. Here I wish to add several points of opinion in the following.
First, Unifying Thinking, Enhancing Understanding and Persistently Putting the Poverty Relief and Development Work in an Important Position
The Central Poverty Relief and Development Working Conference is an important meeting held by the central authorities at the beginning of the new century, it both fully affirms the great achievements gained in China's poverty relief and development work and makes all-round arrangements for the poverty relief and development work in the new historical period. All regions and departments must conscientiously study and profoundly comprehend the spirit of Comrade Jiang Zemin's speech and, from the political and strategic height, fully understand the important significance of doing the poverty relief and development work even better and regard it as an important and urgent task for fulfilling the "10th Five-year Plan" and comprehensively building up a well-off society.
Second, Vigorously Stepping Up Implementation, Emphasizing Practical Results, Striving to Make the Rural Poverty Relief Work a Success Under the New Situation
The fundamental policies and main tasks have been clearly defined for the poverty relief and development work for a period of time to come, the crucial point is to step up their implementation. As the situation has changed under the new historical conditions, we must change ideological concepts, poverty relief methods and the style of work. A basic end has been put to the situation of commodity shortage in China, currently, the overwhelming majority of commodities are oversupplied, so it is necessary to persistently proceed from reality, take the market as the orientation, actively readjust the industrial structure and go in for development according to local conditions. I want to remind you that in poverty-stricken areas, a very prudent attitude must be taken in starting up industrial projects to avoid redundant construction, waste of funds and damage to resources. We must conscientiously implement the strategy for sustainable development. The work of poverty relief and development must not be accomplished at the expense of the environment, ecological protection and construction must be put at a prominent position. We must pay great attention to the important role played by science, technology and education in escaping poverty and embarking on the road to prosperity and strive to improve the quality of the poor population.
All departments, from the central down to local levels, should gradually increase input in helping the poor, improve the methods for the use of funds and enhance the use efficiency. We must earnestly strengthen inspection, supervision and audit of the use of poverty relief funds. Graft, misappropriation and embezzlement of poverty relief funds are all serious crimes which must be strictly examined and dealt with, and resolute measures must be taken to investigate and affix the responsibility on related leaders.
It is essential to educate county and township cadres, so that they understand the actual difficulties of the masses, they must not make subjective decisions in handling affairs and avoid resorting to coercion and commandistm.
Third, Working in Close Coordination, Strengthening Cooperation and Making Joint Efforts to Help Poverty-stricken Areas Get Rid of Poverty and Lead a Better-Off Life
Poverty relief and development is an undertaking of the whole Party and the entire society. Various departments and quarters must strengthen coordination and make common efforts. In tackling problems, adopting policies, drafting plans and allotting funds, various central departments and local Party committees and governments should make sure that all these they do are conducive to promoting the poverty relief and development work, so as to make more contributions to helping poverty-stricken areas get rid of poverty and lead a better-off life. The launch of poverty relief work in selected areas is a pioneering undertaking of China's help-the-poor work which has been crowned with great success, we should conscientiously summarize experiences and do this item of work still better. Various central departments should give play to their vanguard role in the poverty relief work in selected areas. We should continue to mobilize the strengths of various social sectors to support poverty-stricken areas in escaping poverty and embarking on the road to prosperity, economically developed areas, in particular, should continue to help poverty-stricken areas by various forms in their economic development.
Comrades, to do the poverty relief and development work well in the new century, it is necessary to overcome a lot of difficulties, but there are also many favorable conditions. Let us unite closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin at the core, hold high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory and act in compliance with the requirements of the "three represent's", make concerted efforts, do solid work and strive to accomplish all the tasks for the rural poverty relief and development work.
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