International media reporting on the 4th
Plenary Session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC)
is taking an interest in China's efforts to develop poorer, rural
areas and narrow the growing gap between rich and poor.
Many of those involved say there remains a lot of room for
improvement.
"It's good to divert government funds into education and health
care in these areas and make bank loans available. However, it's
still a difficult job for the guiding principles to be implemented
at grassroots level," said Allen Cheng, a reporter for US-based
Bloomberg News, yesterday after hearing Premier Wen
Jiabao's government work report in which he vowed China would
build a "new socialist countryside."
Cheng said the government has been promising to spread
prosperity to the countryside, home to some 800 million people, for
a long time. However, much still needs to be done, he said.
More than 600 foreign journalists from 35 countries have
registered to cover this year's plenary sessions of China's top
legislature and political advisory body and Cheng's view has been
echoed by many foreign reporters.?
Chua Chin Hon, China bureau chief for Straits Times in
Singapore, said it was important that the problems of farmers were
handled appropriately. An example was how land was used in
agricultural areas. Protests against corruption and inequality had
occurred in rural areas over recent years.
Of most interest is how much money the Chinese government will
contribute to the new countryside project and how the policies are
implemented.
Ouyang Song, deputy director of the Organization Department of
the Communist Party of China (CPC)
Central Committee, said China is now undergoing a transitional
phase that will raise gross domestic product (GDP) per capita from
US$1,000 to US$3,000, which indicates a 'golden time' for
development but will also bring problems.
Chua said that's why as a foreign journalist he's particularly
interested in China's efforts to redirect funds by shifting the
government's priority on infrastructure investment from urban areas
to the countryside.
Mayumi Otani, correspondent for The Mainichi newspaper in
Japan, said she wanted to offer something useful for her readers
back in Tokyo in addition to coverage of rural development and
education.
"My focus is on resource conservation and energy saving," said
Otani, who has been in China for two years, adding that Japanese
companies are seeking cooperation with Chinese partners in such
fields.
She said Japan is improving equipment and technology on energy
saving and consumption of materials is on the decrease. Chinese
policies concerning such business opportunities were warmly
welcomed.
"I hope my reports will help expand Sino-Japanese cooperation in
energy saving," she said with a smile.
Russian reporter Alexey Novosti said peace and stability across
the Taiwan Straits continued to be a major topic for him as Taiwan
leader Chen Shui-bian put an end to the "National Unification
Council" and the "National Unification Guidelines" late last
month.
Among other questions on the reporters' minds are national
defense, military spending and the
11th Five-Year Development Guidelines (2006-2010).
(China Daily March 6, 2006)