Premier Wen Jiabao's 16,000-word report on government work as well as the Scientific Concept of Development and the spirit of "putting people the first" the report carried, was widely discussed by deputies of the National People's Congress (NPC) and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in the past three days.

"Only around 20 minutes out of the 107-minute speech were spent to summarize the achievements of last year," NPC deputy Zhu Yanfeng, general manager of FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Company Ltd counted time for the Premier and said, "but what China achieved last year was really substantial."

Wang Chaobin, member of CPPCC National Committee said it was really a hard work for the government to score a 9.1 percent economic growth, given the impact from the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

NPC deputy Gan Yuping, deputy mayor of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality noticed that the Premier won the longest storm of applause when he pledged to rescind agricultural taxes within five years.

"The pursuit of 'governing for the people' was permeated in all the Premier did last year," Gan said, adding that he witnessed premier Wen shaking hands with Xiong Deming, a farmer in Yunyang County of Chongqing, carefully asking about her life and helping her husband get back around 2,000 yuan of defaulted wage.

As the touching story spread across the country, an intensive arrears-return campaign for workers from rural areas was initiated nationwide. From last October to February 4, about 24 billion Yuan of wage arrears has been retrieved for them.

"In his report, the premier vowed to help workers from rural areas all wage arrears within three years. He even listed how to help disadvantage people get job, see doctor, get warm rooms in winter in his government work report," said deputy Zhang Kui, former director of Shanxi provincial planning committee, adding that "from details, we could see the gradual change of government work style. The country's development direction has shifted from GDP-centered to people-centered".

The government work report set the GDP growth expectation of 2004 at around seven percent. "It is a moderate goal. Only maintaining a stable and rapid economic growth without drastic fluctuations, could the country make a coordinate and comprehensive development," said CPPCC member Zhao Baoming, former director of the State Administration of Production Safety.

Many deputies described as posing a huge economic risk excessively large scale of investment, the serious problem of copycat investment and low-level, redundant construction in some industries and regions.

"The Scientific Concept of Development, which was put forward in the government report requiring to realize a stable and rapid economic growth without drastic fluctuations, hit the nail on the head," said deputy Wang Youde.

The work report set forth that "we need to steadfastly push forward with the development of the western region, revitalize northeast China and other old industrial bases, promote the development of the central region and encourage faster development in the eastern region."

CPPCC member Ren Yuling said the remark will promote the development in western region as well as the northeast China and help narrow the regional gap.

(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2004)