President Jiang Zemin reaffirmed yesterday in Beijing the fundamental
status of agriculture in China's national economic development.
The State has given
top priority to strengthening agriculture and increasing farmers'
income in drafting the outline of the 10th Five-Year Plan
(2001-05), and has always made it a guiding principle to consolidate
and strengthen the fundamental status of agriculture.
Jiang made the
remarks in separate group meetings of deputies from Shaanxi
and Hunan provinces at the Ninth National People's Congress
(NPC), in session since Monday. He also exchanged views on
the Outline of the 10th Five-Year Plan for National Economic
and Social Development delivered by Premier Zhu Rongji at
the opening ceremony of the current NPC session.
Jiang said developing
the western region is an important strategic decision made
by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC)
and he wished a good beginning for the implementation of the
strategy.
The next five to
10 years are a critical time for China's national economic
and social development, Jiang stressed.
Jiang spoke highly
of the great achievements Shaanxi has made in economic and
social development since the implementation of the Ninth Five-Year
Plan (1996-2000) and the conscientious efforts the province
has exerted to carry out the various policies and decisions
of the CPC Central Committee.
Jiang noted both
the central and local governments have given great importance
to the strategy of developing the western region since its
launch more than a year ago.
To well implement
the western development strategy, Jiang said, greater efforts
are needed. They include construction of infrastructure facilities
and protection of the ecological environment.
Jiang said a developed
transport system, improved telecom facilities and well-built
water conservancy projects can give full play to rich local
resources in the western region.
To build a sound
ecological environment in the western region, Jiang called
for efforts to return hilly and low-yielding farmland to forested
land, prevent and control the spreading of desert in a planned
manner.
(Xinhua 03/08/2001)
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