The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee mapped out a blueprint for economic and social development during the 10th Five-Year Plan period (2001-05) at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 15th Central Committee of the CPC, which began in Beijing on Monday and ended yesterday.

The plenum examined and approved the Proposal of the Central Committee of the CPC for Formulating the 10th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development.

The meeting held that development is the most important principle that should direct governmental policies and that it is the key to resolving all problems facing China. Moreover, a relatively rapid development speed must be maintained to solve the contradictions and problems existing in the economy and society.

A socialist market economic system has been established and market mechanisms are playing, increasingly markedly, a basic role in the distribution of resources, according to the plenum. This represents a significant change in the economic system in China, said a communique issued yesterday.

China has successfully realized its first two strategic objectives in the process of modernization, with the economy and society developing comprehensively and people generally living a comfortable life. This reality is a new milestone in the history of the Chinese nation, said the communique.

Plenum participants held that China will soon enter a new development stage in which a well-to-do society that benefits all will be built and modernization will be speeded up.

Work must be done to optimize the industrial structure and to upgrade China's agricultural, industrial and service sectors for the benefit of all, said the communique.

Particular attention should be paid to strengthening the leading role of agriculture to guarantee a stable supply of grain and make it possible to continue increasing farmers' incomes, it said.

Measures should be taken to speed up the reorganization and transformation of industries, to raise overall quality of China's industrial sector and sharpen its competitive edge in the international realm, said the communique.

Great efforts must also be made to develop the service sector to substantially expand its presence in the national economy.

The distribution of productive forces should be rationally readjusted for the benefit of the strategy of developing China's western areas, and steady efforts should be made to promote urbanization and balanced regional, urban and rural development. The plenum also agreed that efforts must be intensified to improve infrastructure, protect the environment and strengthen control of population growth and resources so as to maintain sustainable development.

The plenum gave its backing to the notion that economic development and restructuring should rely on scientific innovation.

Reforms should be deepened to break through the obstacles holding back productivity, said the communique.

Large and medium-sized State-owned enterprises should establish modern business systems and strengthen their management structures so as to compete successfully in the market.

The plenum called for the readjustment of the distribution and ownership structure of State-owned enterprises and urged that the private sector, especially those businesses involved in technical fields, be supported, encouraged and guided.

A standardized, national market system with fair competition and order should be established and perfected, stated the communique.

The government should be further transformed in line with the needs of the socialist market economy. The macro-restructuring process and management should be strengthened and improved.

The communique opinioned that as China moves closer to entering the World Trade Organization, its opening-up policy has entered a new stage. Steps should be taken to ensure that areas of the economy that are still relatively closed off to the outside world open up.

Scientific and technological advance is decisive in enhancing a country's comprehensive strength, according to the plenum. The strategy of revitalizing China by relying on science and education should be continued and active measures should be taken to enhance and sustain its innovative capabilities.

The plenum also pointed out that a major strategic task for the future is to train, attract and give full play to talented personnel. Efforts should be made to vigorously develop human resources, step up the development of education and build up a huge contingent of quality talents.

The plenum noted that measures should be adopted to increase the incomes of people in all areas, improve their living standards and provide social security so that people can live and work in peace and contentment.

A complete social security system is an important pillar of a socialist market economic system. Efforts should be made to gradually establish and improve the basic retirement insurance, and medical and unemployment insurance systems for urban workers and personnel and to improve the minimum living standard for urban residents, said the communique.

According to the plenum, the development of a political system of socialist democracy and running the state according to law are important to the socialist modernization drive.

As required by the economic reform process and the modernization drive, the restructuring of the political system has to continue and more efforts should be made to support democracy.

According to the plenum, the Party should insist on the strict discipline of its members and step up the fight against corruption. To allow for the further development of the socialist cause and a smooth transition from the old generation to the young, the Party should strengthen the leadership at all levels and especially concentrate on the young cadres.

The plenum also decided to repeal Xu Penghang's alternate membership of the CPC Central Committee and punish him by keeping his Party membership with a two-year probationary period.

The plenum gave Yue Haiyan, Huang Zhiquan and Wang Zhengfu, all alternate members of the CPC Central Committee, full membership.

(Xinhua 10/12/2000)