Posted on 03/05/2006 8:37:40 PM PST by indcons
BEIJING, MARCH 5: China will channel its surging economic growth to narrow the chasm dividing its rich cities and restive countryside, Premier Wen Jiabao told parliament on Sunday in a speech tempering optimism with stark warnings.
In setting out government goals for the coming year, Wen promised “continuity and stability” in general economic policy, including the currency exchange rate and monetary policy. But he said more wealth and investment must go to farmers and other struggling groups to ensure China’s stability and growth. Wen praised China’s performance in 2005 in a speech to nearly 3,000 delegates of the National People’s Congress — mostly Communist Party members and officials — who packed Beijing’s Great Hall of the People for their brief annual session.
He read a 35-page speech word for word, his delivery occasionally interrupted by perfunctory applause. The only extended clapping before the end came when he spoke of China’s commitment to reclaim Taiwan, an island China considers its own.
Wen warned of dangers and difficult choices ahead. “Some deeply seated conflicts that have accumulated over a long time have yet to be fundamentally resolved, and new problems have arisen that cannot be ignored,” he said.
The country must “pay more attention to social equity and social stability so that all the people can enjoy the fruits of reform and development”. Wen drew a picture of a rapidly growing economy threatened by excessive investment, production gluts and mismanagement. He said distorted industrial expansion was undercutting China’s long-term economic health.
“Production gluts are increasingly severe, prices of related goods are falling and inventories are rising. Business profits are shrinking, losses are growing and latent financial risks are increasing,” he said. The party-picked parliamentary delegates praised the premier’s promises. But in group sessions afterward, even some officials chided the government for allowing farmers’ livelihoods to fall so far behind.
“A lot of money has been invested, but people’s lives have improved little,” Guo Shuqing, the chairman of China Construction Bank Corp., told members of the China People’s Political Consultative Conference, an advisory body that meets at the same time as Parliament.
Wen avoided breakthrough statements on foreign policy and defense. And he also refrained from threatening force against Taiwan, the self-governed island that China says must accept eventual reunification.
—Reuters
LOL...well said.
I guess you don't know much about Wen Jiabao.
"Statements like this, coming from a communist country?"
Hate to break it to you, but China is no longer a communist country. IN fact, it was never a true communist nation to begin with.
Nobody has ever been a 'true communist' country. 'True communist' policies are analogous to me going unicorn hunting.
Frederich Engels said something to the effect of 'If we don't know what people are willing to pay for goods, then how are we able to allocate them effectively'. Stalin even realized the need for the capitalist 'business class', as trying to manage everything centrally was next to impossible and he had to alter his economic policies somewhat when he realized that it couldn't be done.
Though it may not be grammatically correct, I tend to use the words 'communist, socialist, and liberal' interchangeably!
Thanks :)
Maybe that;s Wens take on things. Mine is that the poor of china will take down the haves along with the chi-coms.
>>Though it may not be grammatically correct, I tend to use the words 'communist, socialist, and liberal' interchangeably!
May as well add 'progressive' to the mix. They're starting to hide from 'liberal'.
Thank you for pointing that out!
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