Renowned economist Prof. Xiao Zhuoji Sunday called for ending domination by the state sector to create an environment for a mixed economy.

Commenting on the current Northeast China Development Drive that has caught extensive attention from at home and abroad, the professor from the prestigious Beijing University said that it is necessary to create and improve a fair and orderly market and change the roles of the local governments in addition to a higher growth rate, higher standards of a new heavy industrial base.

The professor, who is a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top advisory body in China, made the remarks at a press conference held as sidelines of the on-going annual CPPCC session.

He placed particular emphasis on professional personnel, who, he said, are key to changing the face of this old heavy industrial base.

Northeast China abounds in professional personnel in both management and engineering, Prof. Xiao said. It is necessary to provide the working conditions and benefits attractive enough to make the professional personnel stay on.

It is also necessary to lure qualified personnel from other parts of the country and even from foreign countries.

(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2004)