BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu
Jintao said Friday the top priority of the country's 2009 agenda on economic
development is to maintain a "stable and relatively fast growth", amid the grim
global economic downturn.
"We will ensure a quality and fast growth of the
national economy next year," Hu said while sitting down with personages outside
the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) to seek their advice on the country's
economic development.
He said the country would pursue an "all-rounded and
sustainable" growth that stresses both quality and efficiency.
The world's fastest growing economy saw its growth
slow sharply to nine percent year on year in the third quarter, the slowest pace
in five years, as a result of slower export and investment growth.
The president said the country would continue to
practice "active" fiscal and "moderately loose" monetary policies next year, and
would in the meantime strengthen and improve macro controls according to
changing conditions.
Such proactive policies is a transition made earlier
this month against adverse global economic conditions from the earlier "prudent"
fiscal and "tight" monetary policies aimed at curbing inflation and averting
overheating.
He stressed the importance of boosting domestic
demands, saying the country would bring consumption to play a bigger role in
driving the economic growth, and the expansion of consumer spending would
receive more prominent emphasis.
China would also increase its investment in rural
areas, agriculture, and farmers "by a large extent" to guarantee the development
of the agricultural sector and ensure the output of grain and other farm
produce, according to the president.
Hu said the country would continue to promote
economic restructuring. China has been working to reduce its heavy reliance on
exports and investment over the past years.
"The country needs to take the challenges of the
ongoing global financial crisis as opportunities to accelerate industrial
restructuring to create new growth and foster other competitive edges," he said.
China would continue with its reform and opening up,
Hu said. "The country will lose no chance to introduce reforms that can promote
the development at the right time, and will take note of bringing the market
into full play in allocating resources."
The country would actively develop the
export-oriented sector and step up the diversification of exporting markets, Hu
added.
He also said the country would stick to improving
people's living conditions and building a stable society. The country would
adopt "more active" employment polices next year, Hu said.
He pledged to improve urban and rural social security
systems and vowed intensified efforts in supervision and inspection of food,
drug and work safety.
"The country has great potential in economic
development and has also accumulated strong capabilities to withstand risks over
the past 30 years of reform and opening up," Hu told the non-Communist people.
The non-CPC personages said they endorsed the CPC and
government's judgment on current situation as well as plans on next year's
economic development. They also offered suggestions on economic issues such as
the fight against the financial turmoil, and macro control measures.
BEIJING, Nov.
28 (Xinhua) -- The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC)
Central Committee convened a meeting here on Friday, analyzing and studying the
economic work of next year and setting out major tasks.
The meeting said that this year has been eventful and the
country has risen to many daunting challenges, including the global financial
crisis and domestic natural disasters. The economy has maintained a stable and
relatively fast growth and society has been stable, which are hard-won
achievements, it said. Full story
BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- China said on Sunday it will
loosen credit conditions, cut taxes and embark on a massive infrastructure
spending program in a wide-ranging effort to offset adverse global economic
conditions by boosting domestic demand.
This is a shift long advocated by analysts of the
Chinese economy and by some within the government. It comes amid indications
that economic growth, exports and various industries are slowing. Full story
BEIJING, Nov. 9
(Xinhua) -- China will take 10 major steps to stimulate domestic consumption and
growth as it turns to an "active" fiscal policy and "moderately easy" monetary
policy, an executive meeting of the State Council said on Sunday. Full story
