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Chinese parliament meeting opens | Chinese parliament meeting opens |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The meeting of China's legislature - the National People's Congress (NPC) - has opened in Beijing with a report by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. | |
Mr Wen said China would do more to save energy, cut pollution and continue the country's stellar economic growth. | Mr Wen said China would do more to save energy, cut pollution and continue the country's stellar economic growth. |
He promised to reduce the gap between wealthy cities and poorer rural areas. | He promised to reduce the gap between wealthy cities and poorer rural areas. |
Correspondents say the report goes to the heart of the government's pledge to focus more on sustainable development than rapid economic growth at any cost. | Correspondents say the report goes to the heart of the government's pledge to focus more on sustainable development than rapid economic growth at any cost. |
In his address to nearly 3,000 delegates in the Great Hall of the People, Mr Wen delivered his annual work report focusing on government plans to fine-tune China's economy. | |
He projected that the GDP would grow by about 8% in 2007, but the need to shun growth for growth's sake and to make the nation's economy greener was a recurring theme. | |
We must safeguard social fairness and justice, and ensure that all of the people share in the fruits of reform and development Prime Minister Wen Jiabao | We must safeguard social fairness and justice, and ensure that all of the people share in the fruits of reform and development Prime Minister Wen Jiabao |
"We should... avoid seeking only faster growth and competing for faster growth," he said at the opening of the 12-day session. | "We should... avoid seeking only faster growth and competing for faster growth," he said at the opening of the 12-day session. |
Mr Wen called for a greater effort to protect the environment, after China missed its targets to improve energy efficiency and pollution levels last year. | Mr Wen called for a greater effort to protect the environment, after China missed its targets to improve energy efficiency and pollution levels last year. |
"The pattern of economic growth is inefficient. This can be seen most clearly in excessive energy consumption and serious environmental pollution. | "The pattern of economic growth is inefficient. This can be seen most clearly in excessive energy consumption and serious environmental pollution. |
"We must attach greater importance to saving energy and resources, protecting the environment and using land intensively," he said. | "We must attach greater importance to saving energy and resources, protecting the environment and using land intensively," he said. |
In a speech that lasted more than two hours, China's premier also acknowledged that ordinary people were being sacrificed in the rush for riches. | In a speech that lasted more than two hours, China's premier also acknowledged that ordinary people were being sacrificed in the rush for riches. |
"We must... safeguard social fairness and justice, and ensure that all of the people share in the fruits of reform and development." | "We must... safeguard social fairness and justice, and ensure that all of the people share in the fruits of reform and development." |
'Landmark law' | 'Landmark law' |
The NPC meets once a year to endorse the policies of the ruling Communist Party. | The NPC meets once a year to endorse the policies of the ruling Communist Party. |
Mr Wen said a law ending preferential tax rates for foreign companies would be passed. | Mr Wen said a law ending preferential tax rates for foreign companies would be passed. |
Another law expected to be passed, but not mentioned by Mr Wen, would give unprecedented protection for private property rights - an important step in the Communist Party's transition to a market economy. | Another law expected to be passed, but not mentioned by Mr Wen, would give unprecedented protection for private property rights - an important step in the Communist Party's transition to a market economy. |
A day after the government announced that the military budget would rise by 17.8% in 2007, Mr Wen said China would continue to strengthen its armed forces. | |
The BBC's Daniel Griffiths in Beijing says it is an ambitious wish list and China's politicians have made similar promises in the past without much success. | The BBC's Daniel Griffiths in Beijing says it is an ambitious wish list and China's politicians have made similar promises in the past without much success. |
The meeting will also be closely watched ahead of a major Communist Party gathering in the autumn, when President Hu Jintao is expected to carry out a reshuffle to further strengthen his position, our correspondent says. |