China Congress seeks more balanced growth

At annual Beijing meeting, Premier Wen Jiabao announces plans to slow growth in the cities and boost development in the countryside

It's political pageantry time in China's capital once again. The annual meeting of China's National People's Congress opened on Mar. 5 in Beijing's cavernous Great Hall of the People on the west side of Tiananmen Square. Premier Wen Jiabao presented a report on the work of his cabinet in 2006, and its policy plans for the rest of this year, to the almost 3000 assembled delegates.

With a target of 8% gross domestic product (GDP) growth, Premier Wen signaled that the Chinese government will try to control the red-hot economic expansion that clocked-in at 10.7% last year. But even as Beijing tries to slow growth in the cities, China's leader made it clear that the goal is to boost development in the countryside and help create a more balanced consumption-driven economy. "Urban and rural development and development among different regions are not balanced," warned Wen. "We need to greatly improve the quality and efficiency of economic growth."

Wen also expressed concern over the jobless rate, outlining plans to keep urban unemployment below 4.6% (it was 4.1% in 2006) and the need to create 9 million new jobs in Chinese cities. "We must pay closer attention to promoting social development and improving people's well-being. We must put people first."

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