Zhu made the call at a science and technology lecture held in Beijing recently by the science and technology leading group of the State Council.

At the lecture, officials from the General Administration of Customs and the State Administration of Taxation reported on the operation of their electronic systems -- part of the country's "golden customs" and "golden tax" projects.

The premier spoke highly of the projects, noting that the projects will be of much help in preventing and cracking down on economic crimes such as smuggling, and tax and exports rebate frauds.

Last year, China put a lot of efforts in the anti-smuggling campaign and achieved huge successes. A total of 80 billion yuan worth of smuggled goods were uncovered, and the customs tariff increased by 71 billion yuan as a result.

Without efforts to continue improving the "golden customs" project, large-scale smuggling may run rampant again, the premier warned.

Currently, he said, a new task for the government is to resolutely strike against the cheats of exports rebates. China raised the rate of export rebates in the second half of 1999, which helped increase exports by 38.3 percent in the first half of this year, Zhu said.

The premier noted that without advanced technological means and modern information technology, China could not have succeeded in dealing with economic crimes and safeguarding economic order and the interests of the country.

Governments at all levels should speed up and improve the construction of the "golden customs" and "golden tax" projects, the premier said.

In his address, Zhu also highlighted the importance of computer networks of various departments in the reforms and management of governments.

It is an urgent job to improve professional and technological training for government workers, the premier said.

(People’s Daily)