The reform of State-owned enterprises (SOEs) in China will remain the central task of the economic restructuring in a period of time to come, and the working class must be relied on in promoting SOE reform and development, President Jiang Zemin said Monday.
In the new period of developing agriculture and the rural economy, the goal of increasing farmers' income must be insisted on, with efforts made to vigorously explore ways for the development of local agriculture.
Jiang, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks when he attended panel discussions of delegations of Heilongjiang and Liaoning provinces on separate occasions during the ongoing annual session of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC).
After hearing speeches by NPC deputies from Liaoning, Jiang said the province must rely closely on the working class and the broad masses of the people in promoting SOE reform and development and the revitalization of the old industrial base, giving full play to their initiative, enthusiasm and creativity.
"The labor of workers must be respected and their legitimate rights and interests be protected," Jiang stressed, adding no enterprise can operate well without workers' active efforts and hard work.
Jiang said it is imperative to accelerate the establishment of a social security system to ensure social stability. He urged CPC committees and governments at all levels to fully recognize the importance in increasing job opportunities in urban and rural areas.
Whether CPC members and government officials are diligent and honest has a direct bearing not only on the implementation of Party line and state policies, but also on the trend of public feeling and the consolidation of the CPC's position as a ruling party, Jiang said.
Jiang told the delegation of Heilongjiang, a major grain production base in the country, that continuing to push forward agricultural restructuring is the fundamental way to improve agricultural efficiency and increase farmers' income.
It is important to develop green food, ensure grain security, and promote industrialized agricultural operation, while giving more support to agriculture to meet the needs for its development and the requirements of the World Trade Organization.
Jiang stressed reform remains a powerful drive for freeing up rural productivity and development.
The creativity of farmers and grassroots officials must be respected, he added.
No one is allowed to infringe on the rights of farmers to contract land, operate independently and earn their benefits, Jiang said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2002)
