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Hu lauds three-decades of reform

— PHOTO: AFP

Brave transformation: Deng Xiaoping during a National People’s Congress session in Beijing in this October 25, 1987 file photo.

BEIJING: President Hu Jintao lauded here on Thursday the nationwide reforms adopted by the Communist Party of China (CPC) in the past three decades when the nation saw nearly 10 per cent average annual growth rate.

Mr. Hu, also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, highly valued Deng Xiaoping, Chinese paramount leader at that time, and his most senior associates for their bold decision on restructuring the national economy and opening up to the outside world.

Mr. Hu also praised the landmark event of the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee, during which the central leadership took efforts to mobilise all ranking officials to conduct reformist steps.

The Chinese leader said the CPC had successfully transformed inertia resulting from the planned economy to the dynamic socialist market economy.

The Chinese economy management policies underscore the comfortable combination of macro control and market dynamics, he said.

In tandem with the economic reform, Mr. Hu said the central leadership continuously deepened political, cultural and social restructuring, which helped stimulate economic prosperity and social harmony.

The President said the all-around opening to the outside world had brought remarkable fruits to the nation, making the country the third biggest player in international trade and the top one in foreign currencies reserve. Under the market-friendly framework, China has attracted nearly $1 trillion in foreign direct investment.

The brave transformation also made China the world’s fourth powerful economy in terms of gross domestic product, with 24.95 trillion yuan ($3.6 trillion) in 2007 from 364.5 billion yuan, said Mr. Hu.

The Chinese President said the feat of feeding 20 per cent of the world’s population is quite a contribution to the world, with the personal disposable income rising from 343 yuan to 13,786 yuan.

The existing population in poverty greatly shrank to 14 million, from 250 million in 1978.

Mr. Hu said China had vigorously pushed forward the socialist democratic politics, featuring the parliamentary system of the National People’s Congress, the political consultation arrangement under the CPC leadership, the autonomous governance mechanism in areas populated by ethnic groups, as well as the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics.

Mr. Hu said the pursuit of advanced socialist spirit and culture helped increase cohesion in the hearts and minds among the whole Chinese nation.

The government spared no efforts to bettering social welfare, including free nine-year compulsory education, the medical care network and reliable social security, he said.

Mr. Hu, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, said the CPC leadership in the armed forces had to be insisted on and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) would take more missions in protecting national security, building the country and playing decisive roles in disaster relief.

Mr. Hu hailed significant steps in achieving the reunification under the principle of “one country, two systems”. With that policy in effect, Hong Kong and Macao are keeping themselves stable and prosperous.

After the historic removal of ban on direct links with Taiwan, the cross-Strait relations are showing a new prospect.

Mr. Hu said the independent foreign policy of peace helped China forge comprehensive ties with developed countries and amiable relations with neighbouring countries.

The President said the CPC had to strictly discipline itself and improve its capability in good governance, corruption resistance and risk control. Mr. Hu said China is still faced with difficulties such as low-efficient modes of development, wealth imbalance, and lagging economic state and underdeveloped livelihood in some rural areas.

“The experience in the past three decades tells us,” he said, “the decision on adopting reform and opening-up has been in agreement with the people’s thoughts, compatible with modern tides, and completely right.”

“Standing still and regressing will lead only to a dead end,” Mr. Hu told an

audience of more than 6,000, which included the former President, Jiang Zemin, and Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang. — Xinhua

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