Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivered a government work report at the opening meeting of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, in the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday. In his lengthy speech, he concluded government work in 2007; and set goals for the future. His speech covered a wide range of issues bearing China's public concerns, national interests, as well as global hot topics.
The following are achievements made in 2007, with an aim to improve people's lives.
"Rice bag" and "vegetable basket"
Premier Wen Jiabao urged governments at all levels to provide a steady, adequate food supply to the country's 1.3 billion people: an effort to control inflation – especially growing food prices – and maintain social stability "We will continue to delegate provincial leaders with the responsibility for the 'rice bag' (grain supply) program; and city mayors for the 'vegetable basket' (no-staple food supply) program," Wen said in his report.
Local governments will not have to deal with this thorny issue alone. Wen promised more subsidies to grain producers and to farmers for the purchase of farm machines; and an increase in grain purchase price. China now has an adequate stock of grain; and the supply of major manufactured consumer goods exceeds the demand.
Benefits for farmers and free compulsory education
Premier Wen told the NPC session that the central government allocated 562.5 billion yuan from its budget for agriculture – a year-on-year increase of 130.7 billion yuan.
The agricultural tax was rescinded, ending the centuries-old practice of farmers paying taxes; and China's grain output rose for four consecutive years to top 500 billion kilograms in 2007, he said.
China will provide free compulsory education, universally available in both urban and rural areas this year. It will stop collecting tuition and miscellaneous fees from urban students in the autumn.
In 2007, free compulsory education was made available to all rural students, marking an important milestone in the history of education development in China.
Food safety
China will specify or update more than 7,700 national standards for the safety of food, drugs and other consumer goods this year in an effort to ensure product quality and safety.
"It is imperative that people feel confident about the safety of food and other consumer goods; and that our exports have a good reputation," said Wen Jiabao in his report.
While stressing that the formulation and update is meant to implement a sound system of standards for product safety; the premier promised that all requirements and testing for the safety and quality of food and other consumer goods will "comply with international standards."
Low-rent housing program
Housing is not a common commodity, but rather a public necessity. Gearing up for a nationwide, low-rent housing program is a crucial step to guarantee every person a home.
A political advisor believed that a low-rent housing program is also one important macro-control measure to curb the surge in housing prices.
Premier Wen vowed that China would earmark 6.8 billion yuan in its 2008 budget to build low-rent housing for the urban poor. It will allocate 1.7 billion yuan – 33 percent more than last year. The government will also build more affordable housing; tighten management in order to ease the housing difficulties of low-income urban residents; and improve the living conditions of rural migrant workers in cities.
Meanwhile, a set of tax, credit and land supply measures will be released to increase reasonably priced housing; curb the demand for high-end housing; and prevent overheating in housing prices, Wen said.
Figures from the Ministry of Construction (MOC) revealed that the low-rent housing program had helped 950,000 low-income urban families nationwide to improve their living conditions by the end of 2007.
By People's Daily Online
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