A renowned Chinese strategist has proposed that China should establish five state compensation systems, which, if well implemented, will help ensure the completion of the drive to build a harmonious society.

Niu Wenyuan, a leading expert on China's sustainable development and a member of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), told Xinhua on Thursday that farmers should receive "reasonable" compensation for their land taken away for various purposes.

Niu, who is also a member of the standing committee of China Zhigong (Public Interest) Party, one of the eight democratic parties in China, has long been dedicated to the study of China's sustainable development.

Statistics show that 65 percent of the incidents involving mass participation over the past three years are related to land requisition and tearing down of houses.

As for the compensation system among industries, Niu suggested that the secondary and tertiary industries give compensation to the primary industry or agriculture.

For instance, the secondary and the tertiary industries can give "reasonable" compensation to the agricultural sector according to the number of people it feeds, he said.

Niu said efforts should be made to establish a social compensation mechanism, as the nation's foremost task for the time being is to build a social security system embracing all walks of life and sectors, the minimum standard of living for urban residents and the basic social security system for the urban poor, laid-off workers from the state-owned enterprises and people living in the Three-Gorge reservoir area.

Finally, both the central and local governments should join hands in establishing a natural disaster compensation foundation.

The CPPCC is a significant component of the country's governance structure. The provincial plenary sessions and the annual national session of the CPPCC are crucial forums for the elite from various sectors as well as non-Communist parties and people without party affiliation, allowing them to make significant contributions to China's political affairs.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2006)