Economic growth not everything
( 2003-12-02 14:31) (Agencies)
Economic growth is not the be
all and end all for China, a senior official was quoted on Tuesday as saying,
and more effort should be made to improve education, health and the environment.
China has set a growth target of seven per cent for 2004, the same as it had
planned for this year during which the economy is now believed to have grown
more than eight per cent, the China Daily quoted Ma Kai, head of the State
Development and Reform Commission, as saying.
"Economic development is not everything for the government, and we should put
more energy (towards) other indicators such as education, health, environment
and social welfare," the newspaper quoted Ma as saying.
Premier Wen Jiabao shook hands and chatted with three AIDS patients on Monday
in an unprecedented public display of commitment by China to fight the disease.
"I'm sure China can sustain a faster developing pace, but we must realise the
challenge if we ignore the rule of sustainable development," Xinhua quoted Ma as
saying.
The seven per cent target was aimed at "cultivating a scientific approach to
social development", Ma said. ($1 = 8.277 Yuan)
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