The general public is the main beneficiary of scientific development, says an article in the Beijing News. The following is an excerpt.

As Hu Jintao mentioned in his report to the 17th National Congress of the CPC, "the view of scientific development" is put forward based on the fundamental national conditions of the preliminary stage of socialism. It is concluded from the nation's development practice, borrowed from the development experience of other countries and adjustable to the needs for new development.

"The first important aspect of scientific development is development with people-oriented consideration at the core; its basic requirement is harmony and sustainability; its fundamental method is making overall plans and taking all factors into consideration," Hu said.

In the past, we had to make up for the economy because of missed development opportunities in the world. Therefore, fast growth naturally became a major index to measure China's social progress and the improvement of people's living standards.

At that time, this appeal was reasonable and an inevasible stage that China must go through to catch up with the world. Until today, development was the most important thing for China.

However, seeking economic indexes is only out of line with China's current realities. Some regions and industries pay too much attention to indexes like GDP, with no regard to wasted resources, environmental pollution, social unrest and regional imbalance.

People are the driving force of reform and also are its prime beneficiary. The accumulation of wealth cannot be achieved at the expense of people themselves. For example, seeking growth at the expense of the human health; growing industries at the sacrifice of clean water, air and soil; renovating cities by infringing upon the interests of disadvantaged groups. Such development cannot last long if people do not equally participate in reform and enjoy its fruits.

We must respect public opinion and encourage the general public to join in the national affairs and social activities in the process of scientific development. In today's China, the general public has a strong passion for participating in the decision making process and has an ever-increasing sense of protecting its own legal rights.

(China Daily October 20, 2007)