The Information Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, published a White Paper on China's Employment Situation and Policies in Beijing Monday.

"The employment situation in China has been maintained basically stable," says the paper, attributing it to the nation's hard work over the past years and the adoption of proactive employment policies.

The 13,290-word White Paper in square Chinese characters notes that China has a population of nearly 1.3 billion, and therefore, to solve the employment issue in the country is a strenuous, arduous and pressing task.

Statistics from the paper indicates that in 2003, the total urban and rural employed population in the country reached 744.32 million, of which the urban employed population was 256.39 million, accounting for 34.4 percent, and the rural employed population was 487.93 million, making up 65.6 percent.

From 1990 to 2003, the employed population increased by 96.83 million, an average rise of 7.45 million per annum, according to the paper.

"In recent years, as the employment pressure has been continuously increasing, the Chinese Government has adopted many measures to curb the sharp rise of urban unemployment," says the paper.

By the end of 2003, the registered unemployment rate in the urban areas was 4.3 percent, and the number of registered jobless urbanites in the urban areas was eight million.

In 2004, the Chinese Government has plans to find employment or reemployment for nine million people, and reemployment for five million laid-off persons, says the paper, adding that the registered unemployment rate in the urban areas is planned to be controled at around 4.7 percent.

"The Chinese Government has persisted in promoting employment by way of developing the economy, adjusting the economic structure, deepening reform, coordinating urban and rural economic development, and improving the social security system," says the paper.

The White Paper consists of seven parts, including the forward, basic employment situation, proactive employment policy, improving the quality of the workforce, employment of rural workforce, employment of women, youth and disabled people, and employment prospects for the early part of the 21st century.

(Xinhua News Agency April 26, 2004)