BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhuanet) -- The Chinese government is likely to secure a new round of readjustment in its development strategy after more than two decades of hectic growth as the country's lawmakers and political advisors meet at their annual sessions this week.

    It is expected to shift its growth-centered strategy to a more scientific and human-based approach to development as advocated by the Communist Party of China Central Committee last October, analysts say.

    The new development philosophy, as explained by Premier Wen Jiabao at a seminar of major leading cadres of provinces last month, is to give more attention to social progress while strivingfor a comprehensive, harmonious and sustainable development.

    "For a long time, there has been a misunderstanding among government officials," said noted economist Wu Jinglian. "It seemsthat their sole task is to boost GDP regardless of the benefit it brings to local residents and the whole nation. That is one of theimportant factors that have contributed to the disparities in economic development between the eastern and western parts of the country, the growing urban-rural gaps and the excessive consumption of resources."

    The shift in the approach to development would mean a fundamental change in the role of the government," said Peng Xingye, deputy president of the Beijing Municipal Party School. "The government will no longer be an engine of economic growth. It should leave economic matters to the market and, as an arbitrator and handler of social issues, should undertake to provide public goods that beyond the means of the market."

    Already leading the way is the Changxing County in Zhejiang Province, which has taken a stunning decision to scrap GDP growth target from the list of criteria for judging the performance of local officials.

    "Our small cement and battery plants used to generate a huge amount of profit," said the county magistrate Lao Hongwu. "But these plants have destroyed the local environment. We can not bearto see the situation continue. Our ambition is to build a 'ecologically sound county'," he said.

    In the wealthy southern province of Guangdong, the government has set the GDP growth target at 9 percent for 2004 as against 13.6 percent last year.

    "The scaling down of the target will help improve the quality and efficiency of economic activities," said Chen Shanru, directorof the provincial development and reform commission.

    The growth-centered development strategy was attributed to the late leader Deng Xiaoping and it has brought about a 25-year high-speed development, with the per capita GDP topping 1,000 US dollars by the end of last year.

    That strategy has played its historical role, but the exclusivepursuit for growth has proved to have its flaws, said Prof. Wang Hongfu from Guangdong's ecological environment and soil institute.

    One of the major flaws is the devastation of the environment, said Prof. Wan. In one city in Guangdong, he noted, the urban areasprawled from 4.7 square kilometers in 1993 to 231.2 square kilometers by the end of last year, but the area of a waterway wetland known a "paradise of migrant birds" in the city has shrunkby 9,225 hectares. Enditem