China will focus on sustainable economic development instead of
concentrating just on economic growth numbers, says a signed
article in the overseas edition of People's Daily. The
following is an excerpt:
"The transfer of the economic growth mode," a common term we
used to invoke, has been replaced by "the transfer of the economic
development mode" in the report delivered by General Secretary Hu
Jintao to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of
China (CPC). The shift from the word "growth" to "development" has
enriched connotations of the basic category of development and
indicates the nation is adhering to the principle of "taking people
first" and the resolve and confidence in pushing forward scientific
development.
The achievements of China's reform and development over the past
three decades have captured global attention. In the great practice
of the reform, opening up and the socialist modernization drive,
the CPC has become distinctly aware of contradictions and problems
in the course of development. When the total economic output
expands, the price paid for resource consumption and the
environment become high because of the irrational structure and
gross growth mode. While people's overall living standards improve,
income disparity increases. While overall national development is
achieved, social development between the urban and rural areas and
between different regions remains imbalanced, and pressure on
employment and social security increases.
In a bid to realize the shift from "growth" to "development",
the most essential thing is to acquire an in-depth understanding of
the Scientific Outlook on Development and implement it in a
penetrating way.
So how do we change or transfer the mode of the economic growth?
Clear-cut requirements have been furnished in Hu's report to the
17th Party Congress: improve the innovative capacity, spur the
strategic adjustment of the economic structure, proceed to take a
new road of industrialization with Chinese characteristics and
develop a modern industrial system; balance urban and rural
development, take a path of agricultural modernization with Chinese
characteristics.
(China Daily November 15, 2007)