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China to focus on market economics

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE Sept. 30. A move to improve China's socialist market economic system and preparations for a manned space flight marked the political mood in Beijing today, on the eve of the 54th anniversary of the founding of the communist state. Taiwan was also warned against its perceived moves for "gradual independence''. The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, which met on Monday, decided to present two major initiatives for deliberation by the third plenary session of the 16th CPC Central Committee, scheduled for October 11-14. They are a "draft decision'' on "improvement of the socialist market economic system'' and a "draft proposal'' on revising a part of the State Constitution. These initiatives, according to diplomatic sources in Beijing, pertain primarily to the implementation of the "thought of Three Represents''.

Propounded by Jiang Zemin, before he was succeeded by Hu Jintao as the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, the "Three Represents'' are, in broad terms, a principle that the party stands for the advanced production forces, the cultural forces and trends besides the overwhelming majority of the people.

As for the efforts to emerge as a space-faring nation, the Science and Technology Minister, Xu Guanhua, announced a few days ago that preparations for a manned space flight were smoothly under way. However, no specific date for the launch has been announced. Shenzhou V, a piloted spacecraft, would be rocketed into an earth orbit. China had sent four unmanned trial flights. China hopes to join the exclusive club of the U.S. and Russia in this super-category.

The programme includes space-station construction and travel to the moon before 2020. On Taiwan, the State Councillor, Tang Jiaxuan, said at a reception in Beijing on Monday the "complete reunification of the motherland is the common aspiration and historical responsibility of the entire Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots''.

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