Fellow Deputies,
We will continue to uphold the principle of "one country, two systems," under
which Hong Kong people administer Hong Kong and Macao people administer Macao
with a high degree of autonomy. We will strictly comply with the basic laws of
the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and give our full support
to their chief executives and governments in administering the regions in
accordance with the law. We will continue to implement the Closer Economic
Partnership Arrangement the mainland has with Hong Kong and Macao and increase
exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and the two of them in matters of
the economy, trade, science and technology, education, culture, health and
sports. We firmly believe that Hong Kong and Macao will remain prosperous and
stable for a long time to come.
We adhere to the basic principles of "peaceful reunification" and "one
country, two systems" and the eight-point proposal for developing cross-Straits
relations and promoting China's peaceful reunification under the present
circumstances. We will unswervingly uphold the one-China principle and never
give up our efforts to achieve peaceful reunification. We will never change the
principle of placing our hopes on the people of Taiwan. We will uncompromisingly
oppose secessionist activities aimed at Taiwan independence. We will continue
working with Taiwan compatriots to facilitate visits by individuals, promote
economic, scientific, technological, and cultural exchanges and cooperation, and
establish peaceful and stable cross-Straits relations. We will strive to resume
dialogue and negotiation between the two sides under the one-China principle and
promote resumption of direct links for postal, air and shipping services and
trade on a comprehensive, direct and two-way basis. We will support economic
development on the west shore of the Taiwan Straits in Fujian and in other areas
where Taiwan investment is concentrated, protect the legitimate rights and
interests of our Taiwan compatriots in accordance with the law, and serve them
whole heartedly. Everyone wants cross-Straits relations to be peaceful and
stable and develop to the mutual benefit of both sides. Anyone who tries to
reverse this major trend will most certainly fail. It is the common wish of all
Chinese people to see the ultimate realization of the great cause of national
reunification, a process that no one can stop.
Fellow Deputies,
Over the last year we held high the banner of peace, development and
cooperation and continued to follow an independent foreign policy of peace. We
safeguarded the fundamental interests of China and its people, developed
friendly ties and mutually beneficial cooperation with foreign countries, and
contributed to common development and the safeguarding of world peace.
This year we will unswervingly continue to take a road of peaceful
development. In international affairs, we will continue to advocate democracy
and justice and promote coordination and cooperation. We will continue to
safeguard security for all on the basis of harmony and mutual trust and promote
common prosperity on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. China will
continue to be open-minded and inclusive, promote dialogue between
civilizations, and work to make the international order more just and equitable.
We will strengthen China's diplomacy in all areas on the basis of the Five
Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. We will consolidate and strengthen friendly
cooperation with other developing countries. We will adhere to our foreign
policy of friendship and partnership with our neighbors, promote the formation
of a mechanism for regional cooperation, and take cooperation in practical
matters with our neighbors to a new high. We will expand common interests with
developed countries, deal with differences appropriately, and promote exchange
and cooperation with them. We will actively participate in and initiate
multilateral diplomacy and play a constructive role in international and
regional affairs. We will expand and intensify cultural exchanges with other
countries to increase understanding and friendship between our peoples. We will
protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals and corporations
overseas. The Chinese government and people will work tirelessly with the people
of all other nations for a peaceful, just and harmonious new world.
III. Explanation of the Outline of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan for
National Economic and Social Development (Draft)
The Proposal of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the Eleventh
Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, adopted at the
Fifth Plenary Session of the Sixteenth Central Committee, sets forth the
objectives, guiding principles and main tasks for China's economic and social
development for the next five years. On the basis of the Proposal, the State
Council prepared the Outline of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan for National
Economic and Social Development (draft), which has been submitted to this
session for your examination and approval. I would now like to briefly go over
several points.
1. The compilation process and major features of the Outline (draft)
The Central Committee and the State Council took the drafting of the Eleventh
Five-Year Plan very seriously. The State Council began making arrangements for
preparatory work for the drafting in July 2003. It organized central government
departments, local governments, research institutions and experts in various
fields to carry out research on major issues facing economic and social
development, laying the groundwork for compiling the Outline (draft). Following
the Fifth Plenary Session of the Sixteenth Central Committee, the State Council
carried out in-depth research based on the Proposal of the Central Committee
before compiling the Eleventh Five-Year Plan. A committee of experts from
various fields was set up to carry out consultation and deliberation.
Suggestions were solicited in various forms nationwide, and many suggestions
were submitted by deputies to the people's congresses, members of CPPCC
committees, and people from all sectors of society. Drafting the Outline was
therefore a democratic, scientific policy-making process that pooled the wisdom
of the Chinese people.
The Outline (draft) seeks to reflect requirements resulting from the
development of the socialist market economy and implementation of the policy of
reform and opening up. It is a macroscopic, strategic policy document that
clearly defines the government's priorities and responsibilities. The document
is original in both form and content. The content of the Outline (draft) gives
specific expression to the strategic philosophy of implementing a scientific
outlook on development and building a harmonious socialist society. It
emphasizes the need to maintain the "five balances," strengthen weak links in
economic and social development, solve the problems that concern the people and
affect their vital interests, and properly balance market forces and
macroeconomic regulation. The targets in the Outline (draft) are divided into
two types: anticipated and obligatory. Anticipated targets are those that we
expect or hope to meet, mainly by guiding the actions of market players.
Obligatory targets are those that must be achieved, mainly by improving
management in accordance with the law and providing services. In form, the
Outline (draft) consists of a main body and a number of boxes, in which
development targets and key projects are listed. The content of the main text is
presented in a clear and easy-to-read way.
The Outline (draft) was compiled based on data from China's first economic
census. This census, which took over two years to complete, gives the clearest
picture yet of the basic state of the nation's economic and social development,
and shows the true GDP and the true proportions of the economy accounted for by
primary, secondary and tertiary industries, thus more closely and accurately
reflecting China's national conditions and strength. Because it is based on the
results of the first economic census, the Eleventh Five-Year Plan better
reflects China's conditions and is more scientific.
2. Major economic and social developments during the Tenth Five-Year Plan
period
The past five years were an unusual period of development in China, one in
which we built on our past achievements and kept pace with the times. We avoided
any serious impact from the Asian financial crisis, prevailed over the SARS
outbreak, and overcame major natural disasters. We lost no opportunity to
further reform and opening up, strengthened the basic role of market forces in
allocating resources, improved macroeconomic regulation, and maintained fast yet
steady economic development. The pace of China's progress in industrialization,
urbanization, market development and internationalization increased
significantly; overall production capacity, overall national strength and
people's living standards all reached new highs; and the appearance of both
urban and rural areas underwent great changes.
China's economic strength grew significantly over the last five years. GDP
was 57.3 percent higher in 2005 than in 2000, an average annual increase of 9.5
percent. Government revenue rose by 136 percent over the same period, up an
average of 364.7 billion yuan per year. Agricultural production, particularly
grain production, took a significant turn for the better. The output of major
manufactured products grew substantially. High-tech industries expanded rapidly.
Tremendous achievements were made in strengthening basic industries and
infrastructure development. Construction of many major projects was completed,
and many others were launched in such fields as water conservancy, energy,
transportation and communications. IT application in the economy and society
expanded rapidly.
