Participants include academicians, entrepreneurs, professors, servicemen, farmers, and officials at grassroots levels, representing more than 4,000 writers of suggestion letters, of whom the oldest is 86 and the youngest only 10.

The discussions focused on the manufacturing sector, diversified ownership, marine development strategy, people's lives, agriculture and the rural economy, scientific and technological innovations, the strategy to develop western China, and herbal medicines.

SDPC Minister Zeng Peiyan and other officials attended the meeting. "Public involvement and transparency in the process of codifying the Five-Year plan is not only conducive to scientific and democratic decision-making, but also to the implementation of the plan," Zeng said.

In October, the SDPC launched a nationwide campaign to solicit public opinions on the five-year plan, which was echoed enthusiastically.

A special group was set up to read the incoming letters. Some suggestions and advice of insight were relayed to the plan-drafting panel for reference.

The activity will continue through next spring when the National People's Congress convenes and examines the plan, Zeng said.

(Xinhua 12/16/2000)