BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The following is the full text of the Report on the Implementation of the 2008 Plan for National Economic and Social Development and on the 2009 Draft Plan for National Economic and Social Development, which was submitted on March 5 for review at the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress: REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2008 PLAN FOR NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ON THE 2009 DRAFT PLAN FOR NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Second Session of the Eleventh National People's Congress March 5, 2009 National Development and Reform Commission Fellow Deputies, The National Development and Reform Commission has been entrusted by the State Council to report on the implementation of the 2008 plan for national economic and social development and on the 2009 draft plan for national economic and social development for your deliberation and approval at the Second Session of the Eleventh National People's Congress (NPC), and also for comments and suggestions from the members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). I. Implementation of the 2008 Plan for National Economic and Social Development The year 2008 was an extraordinary and eventful year for China. Our country's economic and social development experienced a variety of severe challenges and tests that were hardly anticipated and rarely seen. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the people of all our ethnic groups thoroughly applied the Scientific Outlook on Development, followed the plan for national economic and social development adopted at the First Session of the Eleventh NPC, surmounted numerous difficulties, and eliminated interference from emergencies of all kinds. Finally, we won great victories in dealing with the devastating snow and ice storms in parts of the south and the massive earthquake that hit Wenchuan, Sichuan Province. We successfully held the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games and accomplished the Shenzhou VII manned space flight mission. In particular, we actively responded to the severe impact of the global financial crisis, sustained steady and fairly rapid economic development and maintained social harmony and stability. The Plan for 2008 was, on the whole, implemented well. 1. The economy grew steadily and rapidly. China's GDP topped 30 trillion yuan in 2008, a year-on-year increase of 9.0% and more than five percentage points higher than the average world economic growth rate. The value-added of large industrial enterprises increased by 12.9% over 2007, with that of light and heavy industries rising 12.3% and 13.2% respectively. Retail sales of consumer goods rose 21.6% to 10.85 trillion yuan, up 4.8 percentage points. Fixed asset investment across the country totaled 17.23 trillion yuan, up 25.5%. Domestic demand, particularly consumer demand, played a greater role in boosting economic growth. Economic performance continued to improve. National revenue reached 6.13 trillion yuan in 2008, up 19.5% year on year. Energy consumption per unit of GDP continued to decline in 2008, down 4.59%. Sulfur dioxide emissions and chemical oxygen demand kept falling, down 5.95% and 4.42% respectively, and this trend became more firmly set. Water consumption per 10,000 yuan of value-added by industry dropped by 7.0%. Efforts were intensified to use land more economically and intensively, resulting in continued improvement in land-use efficiency. 2. There was a gradual decline in the rate of price increase. We adopted comprehensive policies and measures to counteract the great pressure that ballooning domestic food prices and the surge in the prices of grain and oilseed on the international market in the first half of 2008 placed on our efforts to stabilize prices. On the one hand, we worked to ensure adequate supplies. We formulated and implemented supporting policies to boost grain, oilseed and egg production and hog and dairy farming. We strengthened the emergency allocation and transport of important farm and sideline products, improved coordination between their production and sale, and alleviated problems concerning the sale and distribution of grain in northeast China and farm products in some areas, especially disaster-stricken areas. We took measures that combined fiscal and tax policy support, export controls, import inducements and manipulation of state reserves to ensure adequate market supplies and steady prices for important commodities such as grain, refined petroleum products and fertilizer. On the other hand, we strengthened market oversight. We instituted temporary measures to hold down the prices of grain, edible vegetable oil and other important commodities. We organized and carried out inspections focused on prices for agricultural supplies, refined petroleum products, medical care and drugs, and charges related to farmers, enterprises and education; actively encouraged business managers to exercise self-discipline in setting prices; and severely cracked down on violations of the law such as hoarding for speculation and colluding to drive up prices. At the same time, we raised the level of the cost of living allowances twice to ensure that the basic living standard of low-income groups would not be significantly affected by price increases. Beginning in the fourth quarter, the inflationary pressure subsided considerably. The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 5.9% for the year. The rate of price increase for means of production, including agricultural supplies, also fell rapidly, with producer prices for means of production in December down 1.9% year on year and the inflation rate for agricultural supplies down 12.4 percentage points from its July high.
JINAN, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Tuesday urged local governments to support spring ploughing work to promote grain production. Speaking at a national meeting held by the State Council (Cabinet) in Jinan, capital city of eastern China's Shandong Province, on Monday and Tuesday, Hui called for great efforts to support the harvest of summer grain and oil crops. He called on local authorities to give priority to spring farm work, maintain steady and relatively fast rural and agricultural development, help farm incomes rise and improve water conservation in rural areas. He urged authorities to provide agricultural science and technology services to farmers, strengthen pest and animal disease controls, help farmers rise out of poverty and provide more jobs for returning migrants. China harvested 528.5 billion kilograms of grain last year, up 5.4 percent from 2007, the fifth consecutive increase.
BEIJING, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi made a phone conversation with his U.S. counterpart Hillary Clinton on Sunday, expressing concerns over Chinese nationals killed and injured in Friday's Binghamton shooting rampage. According to preliminary investigation results, four Chinese women were among the people killed in the shooting and another Chinese national was injured. The American Civic Association is cordoned off in Binghamton, New York, the United States, April 4, 2009. Chinese are among the dead in Binghamton Shooting, Chinese consulate cities police sources"This was a very serious incident and the Chinese government is deeply concerned about it," Yang said. "We grieve over the death of the Chinese nationals and other victims, and our condolences go to the injured people as well as the victims' families," he said. China hopes the United States will properly handle the matters concerning the Chinese victims, offer immediate medical treatment to the injured Chinese, and provide the victims' families with timely and sufficient assistance as well as convenience to get visas to America, Yang said. The Chinese Embassy and the Consulate-General in New York are both making urgent contacts with the U.S. side over the issue, he added. Yang also urged the U.S. to take necessary measures to ensure the safety of the Chinese nationals and their properties in the United States. Clinton, for her part, extended condolences to the Chinese victims and their families. She said the shooting was a tragedy and investigations have been underway into the cause. The United States will be serious with China's requests, she said, pledging all efforts to offer medical treatment to the injured Chinese and to provide the victims' families with timely and comprehensive assistance to get visas to her country. Thirteen people were killed and four others wounded Friday in the shooting spree by a lone gunman at an immigrant services centre in downtown Binghamton, New York. Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan described the shooting as "a tragedy that affects many different people from many different countries and their families and friends." There have been inquires from nine different countries and two different consulates, Ryan told a press conference.
BEIJING, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang Thursday urged the country's labor department to find employment for people this year. China is facing a daunting task to secure jobs for its workforce after more than 20 million migrant workers lost their jobs in the global financial crisis. To compound the problem, more than seven million college graduates will be looking for jobs this year. "We must ensure a stable employment situation this year, as employment is related to people's livelihood and the harmony and stability of the society," Zhang said at a working conference of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The country's urban unemployment rate increase 0.2 percentage points to 4.2 percent at the end of 2008, even though migrant workers are not included in that number. Zhang asked the ministry to adopt more active policies to find employment for people. Tax burdens of firms could be reduced, and preferential policies for social security coverage could be employed to help firms survive the crisis and keep jobs, Zhang said. More subsidies should be offered to organize vocational training in order to get people reemployed, and training should be made more relevant to different jobs, he added. The Vice Premier also said the government should step up building a social insurance system that covers both urban and rural residents, and continue to raise pensions for retired workers. China created new jobs for 11.13 million people last year, 11 percent more than the target of 10 million. The country also found jobs for five million laid-off workers and for 1.43 million who had difficulty in finding a job. The combined 6.43 million was again higher than the original target of five million.
BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday called for all efforts to rescue the miners trapped or injured in the coal mine blast in north China's Shanxi Province. As of 6 p.m., 74 people were confirmed dead from the accident which occurred early Sunday morning at the Tunlan Coal Mine of Shanxi Coking Coal Group. The president and premier urged rescuers to spare no efforts to save the trapped miners and ensure the safety of rescuers, and prevent secondary accidents. Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang headed for the site Sunday evening to direct the rescue operation and console the injured miners and families of the victims. Zhang also declared to set up an investigation team to probe into the cause of the accident. Leaders from the State Administration of Work Safety and Shanxi provincial officials have also arrived at the scene. Luo Lin (1st L, rear), head of the State Administration of Work Safety, Zhao Tiechui (R, rear), head of the State Bureau of Coal Industry, and Zhang Baoshun (C, rear), the Provincial Communist Party Committee chief, talk with a miner injured during the accident at a hospital Gujiao City, north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 22, 2009.
VALLETTA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to make joint efforts with Malta to further promote their traditional friendly relations, visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said here on Saturday. Xi arrived in Malta's capital Valletta on Saturday morning to pay an official visit to the Mediterranean island country, on the last leg of a six-nation tour that started on Feb. 8. Earlier he visited Mexico, Jamaica, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil. During a meeting with Acting Maltese President George Hyzler, Xi said that Sino-Maltese relations have been developing very well in recent years, with a frequent exchange of high-level visits, enhanced mutually beneficial cooperation, and active exchanges in such fields as culture, education and judicature.Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Maltese Acting President George Hyzler (L) in Valletta, capital of Malta, Feb. 21, 2009. China and Malta understand and support each other in major international and regional affairs, he said, adding that the two nations are "old friends and good friends" that have stood the test of time. For his part, Hyzler thanked China for the sincere help it has provided for Malta, and congratulated China on the great achievements of its modernization drive. He also noted that there has been a good cooperative relationship between Malta and China. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L) meets with Maltese Parliament Speaker Louis Galea in Valletta, capital of Malta, Feb. 21, 2009While meeting with Louis Galea, speaker of Malta's House of Representatives, Xi stated that parliamentary exchange is an important part of Sino-Maltese relations, and that strengthening exchange and cooperation between the two sides is of great significance for the development of bilateral ties and friendship between the two peoples. China attaches great importance to the development of Sino- Maltese ties, treasures the friendship between the two peoples, and appreciates Malta's long-term adherence to the one-China policy, the vice president stressed. In response, Galea said Malta has treasured its friendship with China, which is a major country in the world. Malta highly appreciates China's foreign policy of peaceful cooperation, and expects China to actively play its part in promoting world peace, tackling the current financial crisis and protecting the environment, Galea said. Both Hyzler and Galea reiterated that the Maltese government and parliament will firmly stick to the one-China policy.
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BUSAN, South Korea, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Experts from China, Japan and South Korea attending a regional forum here on Sunday called for closer cooperation among the three countries in tackling the global financial crisis. The proposal was made at the fourth session of the Northeast Asia Trilateral Forum, a regional platform with political, business and academic experts from the three countries. Vice President of China's Xinhua News Agency Zhou Xisheng (R), Lee Hong-koo (C), former prime minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Ryoki Sugita (L), head of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Japanese Economic News Press), attend the opening ceremony of the Forum of Northeast Asian Prominent Figures, in Pusan, ROK, April 12, 2009. The fourth Forum of Northeast Asian Prominent Figures was opened on Sunday in Pusan. In his speech to the forum, former Chinese vice premier Qian Qichen said that the issues of the financial crisis, energy security, environmental protection and climate change have been interwoven and become global challenges, and no country alone can counter these challenges. China, Japan and South Korea are major forces in maintaining world financial stability and promoting global growth, and the most pressing task is to work together to take every necessary measure to curb the spread of the crisis and mitigate its impact on economic growth and market stability, he said. Vice President of China's Xinhua News Agency Zhou Xisheng (R) talks with Lee Hong-koo, former prime minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK), during the opening ceremony of the Forum of Northeast Asian Prominent Figures, in Pusan, ROK, April 12, 2009. The fourth Forum of Northeast Asian Prominent Figures was opened on Sunday in PusanFormer Japanese prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone suggested in his speech that experts from the three countries form a group to search for a solution to the world financial crisis. Former South Korean prime minister Lee Hong-koo said the consensus on building new world orders in politics, economy and other fields needs to be more broadly shared so as to better tackle the crisis that all are faced with. The forum will focus on cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan in dealing with the world financial crisis, which will lay a good foundation for the further development of ties among the three countries, Lee said. The Northeast Asia Trilateral Forum is a yearly event cosponsored by the Xinhua News Agency of China, the Nikkei news group of Japan and leading South Korean daily Joong Ang Ilbo, and gathers prominent figures from all walks of life in the three countries. This year's meeting is set to discuss global financial risks, environment, energy and culture.
BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday met with Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Michael Thomas Somare.In their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing, Hu said bilateral relations have made significant progress since both countries forged diplomatic ties in 1976, citing frequent high-level visits, deep political trust and fruitful cooperation in all fields. Hu appreciated Papua New Guinea's unswerving adherence to the one-China policy and support on China's peaceful reunification. Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Michael Thomas Somare during their meeting in Beijing, capital of China, April 14, 2009. Hu said Papua New Guinea was an important Pacific island country and played a crucial role in regional affairs. Hu said his country regarded Papua New Guinea as a good friend and partner in pacific islands. On the economic front, Hu said both countries were complementary and had a broad prospect for cooperation. He proposed both countries step up mutually-beneficial cooperation in key areas such as trade, agriculture, forestry, fishery, transportation, resources and energy. Hu said the Chinese government encouraged and supported Chinese businesses to invest and operate in Papua New Guinea. Somare, who was here for an official visit, said Papua New Guinea cherished its relations with China, which was a sincere and reliable partner. Somare said his country respected China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and adhered to the one-China policy. He thanked China for offering generous assistance to his country for many years. He said his country would like to work more closely with China on trade, energy, resources and construction. Somare is to visit south China's Hainan Province for the 2009 meeting of the Bo'ao Forum for Asia (BFA) from April 17 to 19.
BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- World media spoke highly of Premier Wen Jiabao's remarks Friday at a press conference and policies China has adopted to battle the economic crisis, saying the two just-concluded political sessions delivered "China's confidence." The two sessions are known as the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) and the Second Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). The U.S. Chinese Biz News said in a commentary that China has worked out various measures to boost confidence in a number of fields, noting that the package of measures was unprecedented concerning its covered area, depth and influence. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao answers questions during a press conference after the closing meeting of the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2009. The annual NPC session closed on Friday "China's confidence" was frequently used by reporters covering the NPC and CPPCC, making it a key phrase of the two sessions, it added. Zheng Yide, editor-in-chief of the U.S. Qiaobao, said the two political sessions spurred confidence of the world amid the unfolding economic turmoil. China has pledged an 8-percent economic growth, and considering the important role it plays on the world platform, such commitment uplifts people's confidence not only in China's economy but also in the world economy, Zheng said. The Paris-based Nouvelles d' Europe, the biggest Chinese newspaper in Europe, published a commentary saying "confidence" had been a key word running through the two political sessions and left a deep impression on the world. The recurring word offered China as well as other countries an effective prescription for surviving the economic crisis. Lianhe Zaobao, a leading Chinese-language newspaper in Singapore, said in an editorial that Wen has unequivocally said China is ready to confront even bigger challenges amid the financial crisis and can "roll out a new stimulus package at any time." That is a promise not only to the Chinese people but to the whole world, the editorial said. It is remarkable that China delivered such kind of determination and confidence at a time when the United States and Europe are still entrenched in their positions on measures to overhaul the global financial system, the editorial said. Nanyang Siang Pau of Malaysia said that China has set an 8-percent economic growth target for this year. The paper quoted Wen as saying that China's fiscal deficit is controllable and the government's debt level is safe. China will keep its currency, the yuan, stable at a reasonable and balanced level, Wen was cited as saying. "No country in the world has the right to put pressure on the devaluation or appreciation of the Chinese currency." Malaysia's China Press and Sin Chew Media also covered the conclusions of the two political sessions and Wen's press conference.
BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- China Friday called on the international community to "act cautiously" on the Darfur issue as it is afraid rash action could damage peace and stability in Sudan. "The involved parties should fully respect and listen carefully to the voices of the African Union (AU), the Arab League and African and Arabian countries," Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said in his meeting with visiting Sudanese president's envoy Awad Ahmed al-Jaz in Beijing. "The international community should further promote the deployment of the UN/AU hybrid operation in Darfur", Xi said. Xi called on the international community to help advance the political process, to ensure the Doha-mediated dialogue will achieve substantive progress and facilitate the smooth progress ofthe humanitarian aid in the Darfur region. Under joint mediation of the United Nations (UN) and the AU, as well as the sponsorship of Qatar, the Sudanese government and rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) signed in Doha last month a goodwill agreement to pave the way for resumption of peace negotiations. During the meeting, Xi also highlighted the growth of relations between China and Sudan since the two forged diplomatic relations 50 years ago. Xi noted China would regard the 50th anniversary as an opportunity to push traditional friendly relations to a higher level. Echoing Xi's views, al-Jaz said that Sudan expected to continue to cement bilateral friendly cooperation with China in various fields and would firmly support China on the issues of Taiwan and Tibet. He said the Sudanese government would never recognize the arrest warrant against President al-Bashir but still remained committed to working with the UN and AU and take effective measures to improve the humanitarian situation in Darfur and coordinate with the implementation of the UN/AU hybrid operation in the region.