The "Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's Proposal
on the Formulation of the 11th Five-Year Guielines (2006-2010) for
National Economic and Social Development" adopted by the Fifth
Plenum of the 16th CPC Central Committee put forward many new
thoughts, new ideas and new moves. This will definitely exert mayor
influence on the new practice of China's economic and social
development, the following 11 key words merit attention.
7. Building socialist new villages
The "Proposal" clearly states: "Building socialist new villages
is a major historical mission in China's modernization
process."
The target and requirement for building socialist new villages
can be summed up as follows: Developed production, well-off life,
civilized rural customs, a neat and tidy appearance of village and
democratic management. Such scenarios give full expressions to the
requirements for rural economic, political, cultural and social
development under the new situation.
Building socialist new villages requires upholding the
principles of "giving more to villages, taking less from them and
breathing new life to them", and "industry nurturing agriculture
and cities supporting villages", improving farmers' living quality,
bringing about a relatively big change in the outlook of rural
areas as a whole. Emphasis is placed on strengthening plans for the
construction of villages and towns and improving the environment,
and on the construction of new villages and towns; developing
various social undertakings in rural areas, fostering new farmers;
strengthening construction of rural democracy and legal system and
construction of spiritual civilization and encouraging new social
practices.
8. Deepening reforms
The "Proposal" has the following salient characteristic:
Promoting the strategic adjustment of structures and social
progress through intensifying reform efforts.
The many contradictions and problems currently arising in China
are rooted in the fact that the reform is not in place and the
system imperfect: The reason for the periodical fluctuations
appeared in China's macro-economy lies in the fact that reforms of
the macro-management system and the micro-operational mechanism are
not put in place; the reason for the extensive mode of economic
growth is directly related to the fact that the change of
government functions is not in place, the finance, taxation and
banking systems are imperfect and enterprise reform is not in
place; and the serious waste and low efficient use of resources is
directly related to the indistinct defined property right systems
of land, water and important mineral resources and to the
irrational formation of mechanism.
The "Proposal" has worked out plans in regard to the emphasis on
deepening reforms: First is to vigorously press ahead reform of the
government's administrative management system. Second is to uphold
and improve the basic economic system. And third is to push forward
finance, taxation and banking system reforms.
9. Raising the level of opening to the outside
world
During the "11th Five-Year Plan" period, China's opening program
is faced with a more complicated international environment and new
requirements set forth by domestic development. Such being the
case, we must raise the level of opening to the outside world. The
"Proposal" clearly calls for implementation of a mutually
beneficial and win-win opening strategy, this is a major guiding
principle for balancing domestic development and opening to the
outside world during the "11th Five-Year Plan" period and is a
guideline for further and wider opening to the outside world.
Carrying out the mutually beneficial and win-win opening strategy
requires: First, accelerating the change of the trading growth
pattern, actively developing foreign trade, optimizing the mix of
import and export commodities, and striving to bring about a basic
balance of imports and exports; second, continuing an active and
efficient use of foreign capital, focusing efforts on improving the
quality of the utilization of foreign capital and strengthening
guidance to foreign-funded industries and regions; third,
supporting qualified enterprises in "going global" and investing
abroad in accordance with common international practices.
10. Public service
The "Proposal" particularly stresses the need to further change
government functions, to concentrate major government energy on
economic regulation, market supervision and administration, social
management and the functions of various public services. During the
"11th Five-Year Plan" period, public service is raised to an
unprecedented height. In relevance to the reduction in the economic
indexes, human and social indexes are added to the projected
targets of the "11th Five-Year Plan", such as civilian-concerned
employment, social security, compulsory education, public health
and public security. And
11. Social development
The "Proposal" points out that development must be a scientific
one, it is necessary to incorporate the building of a socialist
harmonious society into the connotation of development, to
coordinate and promote economic construction, political
construction, cultural construction and social construction, and
propel humans' all-round development. The words "social development
are especially eye-catching in the "Proposal". While impelling
economic development, it is essential to pay attention to the
problems concerning social development, such as how should wealth
be distributed, how interests be coordinated and how contradictions
be defused. Regarding this, the "Proposal" clearly points out the
need to begin with tackling the practical problem that involves the
vital interests of the people, to lay more emphasis on the
coordinated economic and social development, to speed up the
development of social undertakings; greater attention should be
paid to social justice, so that all people can share the
achievements of reform and development; more attention should be
given to the coordination of reform, development and stability and
maintenance of social tranquility and unity.
(People's Daily October 11, 2005)