Chinese President Hu Jintao, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), gives a keynote speech at the opening of the 17th National Congress of the CPC in Beijing to map out China's all-round development for the coming five years, October 15, 2007. [people.com.cn]
The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) opened in Beijing at 9:00 am on Monday to map out China's all-round development for the coming five years. Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), delivered a report to the congress.
China's per capita GDP to quadruple by 2020 China's per capita GDP is expected to be quadrupled by the year 2020 against 2000, Hu Jintao said in his report to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Monday.
But the rapid growth will be under the condition of reduced consumption of resources and greater efforts in environment protection, Hu said on behalf of the 16th CPC Central Committee.
"We will quadruple the per capita GDP of the year 2000 by 2020 through optimizing the economic structure and improving economic returns while reducing consumption of resources and protecting the environment," he said.
This goal is much higher than the target set by the CPC five years ago at the 16th National Congress, which was to quadruple the GDP value, without the mention of per capita, by 2020, observers noted.
Five years ago, the 16th CPC National Congress outlined the task to quadruple GDP of the year 2000 by 2020 through optimizing the economic structures and improving efficiency.
China's GDP has kept growing at a speed of over 10 percent for four consecutive years and topped 20 trillion yuan ($2.7 trillion) in 2006.
But the fast economic growth has been realized "at an excessively high cost of resources and the environment," Hu acknowledged.
Per capita GDP stood at $2,042 in 2006, up $339, or nearly 20 percent, over that of the previous year, according to He Chuanqi, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
China's per capita GDP hit $800 in 2000, according to the 16th Communist Party National Congress report in 2002.Expanding Democracy
The Chinese characters for democracy (Minzhu)turned up to be one of the most extensively used political concept in Hu's report, showing up at least 60 times.
China will "expand people's democracy and ensure that they are masters of the country," Hu told more than 2,200 delegates attending the congress, telecast live by national TV and radio stations.
China need to improve institutions for democracy, diversify its forms and expand its channels, and carry out democratic election, decision-making and administration and oversight in accordance with the law to guarantee the people's rights to be informed, to participate, to be heard and to oversee, Hu said.
Hu also said that the CPC will "expand intra-Party democracy to develop people's democracy" by increasing transparency in Party affairs and "opposing and preventing arbitrary decision-making by an individual or a minority of people."
With the recent promotion of two non-Communists -- Wan Gang and Chen Zhu -- to cabinet ministers, Hu promised that the Party will "select and recommend a greater number of outstanding non-CPC persons for leading positions."
Hu vowed to continue to intensify anti-graft fight "to see to it that all cases involving violation of law and discipline are thoroughly investigated and dealt with, and all corruptionists are severely punished according to law without fail."
Hundreds of thousands of corrupt officials, including former Shanghai Party chief Chen Liangyu, were nabbed in the past five years. In 2006 alone, more than 90,000 members of the Party were disciplined, statistics show.
The ancient Chinese philosophy of harmony has been enshrined in China's domestic policies, and China is also introducing it to the world by calling for building a harmonious world.
Hu also said China is to modernize its armed forces but stressed that "China follows a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, and it does not engage in arms race or pose a military threat to any other country."
"China opposes all forms of hegemonism and power politics and will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion," he said.
Hu condemned the forces of "Taiwan independence" for stepping up their secessionist activities and seriously jeopardizing the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations. He made a "solemn appeal" that "on the basis of the one-China principle, let us discuss a formal end to the state of hostility between the two sides, reach a peace agreement, construct a framework for peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, and thus usher in a new phase of peaceful development."
Hu also summed up the achievements China has made in the past five years and in the past three decades since the reform and opening up policy was initiated, while paying passionate tribute to the three generations of CPC leadership headed by Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin for their glorious legacies in building New China.
Peace agreement with Taipei urged
In the report, Hu proposed for the establishment of a peace agreement with Taipei while calling for a formal end to the state of hostility across the Taiwan Straits since the Civil War ended in 1949.
Hu said the mainland "is ready to conduct exchanges, dialogue, consultations and negotiations with any political party in Taiwan on any issue, as long as it recognizes that both sides of the Straits belong to one and the same China."
Hu said in his keynote speech that reunification of Taiwan with the mainland is the historical necessity of China's rejuvenation drive. He noted that any issues, that relate to China's sovereignty and territorial unity, must be decided by the 1.3 billion Chinese people including the 23 million living on the Taiwan island.
On the basis of the one-China principle, "Let us discuss a formal end to the state of hostility between the two sides, reach a peace agreement, construct a framework for peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, and thus usher in a new phase of peaceful development," said Hu, 64, who is also president of the country.
He made the solemn call in his political report to the twice-a-decade National Congress of the CPC, which opened Monday morning at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The meeting is considered the most important as it will chart major policy guidelines and future development plans for China, now one of the world's fastest growing economies.
It is the first time that the CPC Central Committee has officially called for the establishment of a peace agreement between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits in its political report.
Hu once made the call during his talks with Lien Chan, former chairman of Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (or Nationalist Party), when Lien visited the mainland in 2005.
Stressing that it is a common aspiration of all people of the Chinese nation to resolve the Taiwan question and achieve complete national reunification, Hu also reiterated that the country will never waver in commitment to the one-China principle, never abandon the efforts to achieve peaceful reunification, never change the policy of placing hopes on the people in Taiwan and never compromise in opposition to the secessionist activities aimed at "Taiwan independence."
Hu also vows to make every effort with the utmost sincerity to achieve peaceful reunification of the two sides, and will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from the motherland in any name or by any means.
Hu pledges that CPC will sincerely work for the well-being of the compatriots on both sides of the Straits and for peace in the Taiwan Straits region, and safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation.
Specifically, Hu said the that the mainland will continue to implement and enrich the policies and measures that benefit the Taiwan compatriots, protect their legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law and support economic development on the west shore of the Straits in Fujian Province and in other areas where Taiwan investment is concentrated.
Statistics show that there are currently about 1.3 million Taiwan people living and working in the mainland.
RMB Convertibility
China will improve RMB exchange rate regime, and gradually make the RMB convertible under the capital accounts, President Hu Jintao said Monday.
China will make its banking, securities and insurance industries more competitive, he said at a report delivered at the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing.
China will proceed with financial reform to develop various tiers of financial markets and build a modern financial system that is inclusive of different forms of ownership and different ways of operation, according to Hu.
The president then proposed to improve the structure of capital market and raise the proportion of direct financing through multiple channels.
Hu suggested strengthening financial supervision and controlling, and forestalling and diffusing financial risks.
Boosting domestic demand
Hu called for increasing domestic demand, particularly consumer demand to drive the further development of the economy.
The country should propel three transitions in the mode of economic growth, Hu said.
Firstly, China should transit from mainly relying on investment and export to relying on the well coordinated combination of consumption, investment and export, according to Hu.
He then suggested a transition from secondary industry serving as the major driving force to primary, secondary and tertiary industries jointly driving economic growth.
The third transition is from relying heavily on increased consumption of material resources to relying mainly on advances in science and technology, improvement in the quality of work force and innovation and management, Hu noted.
The country should encourage formation of internationally competitive conglomerate, Hu said, calling for the acceleration in the development of a modern energy industry.
The top leader went on to urge to promote the upgrading of industrial structure this is a pressing strategic task vital to the economy as a whole.
China should also upgrade new-, and high- technology industries and develop information, bio technology, new materials, aerospace, marine and other industries, Hu said.
He also demand to ensure the quality and safety of products.
China never seeks hegemony
By unswervingly following the path of peaceful development, China will not engage in arms race and never seek hegemony, a top Party leader said on Monday.
Addressing the ongoing all-important 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Hu Jintao, General Secretary of CPC Central Committee, pledges that China will follow "a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, and it does not engage in arms race or pose a military threat to any other country."
"China opposes all forms of hegemonism and power politics and will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion," Hu said.
Stressing that peaceful development is a strategic choice for the Chinese government and people, Hu, 64, reiterated that China works for peaceful settlement of international disputes and hotspot issues, promotes international and regional security cooperation, and oppose terrorism in any form.
Hu also said that China will unswervingly follow a win-win strategy of opening up and will accommodate the legitimate concerns of other countries, especially other developing countries.
"We will increase market access in accordance with internationally recognized economic and trade rules, and protect the rights and interests of our partners in accordance with law," Hu said.
Specifically, Hu said that China support efforts to improve international trade and financial systems, advance the liberalization and facilitation of trade and financial systems, advance the liberation and facilitations of trade and investment, and properly resolve economic and trade frictions through consultation and collaboration.
Hu added that China support international efforts to help developing countries enhance their capacity for independent development and improve the lives of their people, so as to narrow the North-South gap.
"China will never seek benefits for itself at the expense of other countries or shift its troubles onto others," Hu said.
According to the work report delivered by Hu, China has accelerated the revolution in military affairs with Chinese characteristics.
The armed forces were reduced by 200,000 troops during the past five years, and efforts were intensified in all respects to make the armed forces more revolutionary, modernized and standardized.
