The State Development Planning Commission (SDPC) Saturday invited
representatives from all walks of life across the country to voice
their suggestions and advice on the drafting of the 2001-2005
Five-Year Plan.
Participants include academicians, entrepreneurs, professors,
servicemen, farmers, and officials at grassroots levels,
representing more than 4,000 writers of suggestion letters, of whom
the oldest is 86 and the youngest only 10.
The discussions focused on the manufacturing sector, diversified
ownership, marine development strategy, people's lives, agriculture
and the rural economy, scientific and technological innovations,
the strategy to develop western China, and herbal medicines.
SDPC Minister Zeng Peiyan and other officials attended the meeting.
"Public involvement and transparency in the process of codifying
the Five-Year plan is not only conducive to scientific and
democratic decision-making, but also to the implementation of the
plan," Zeng said.
In
October, the SDPC launched a nationwide campaign to solicit public
opinions on the five-year plan, which was echoed
enthusiastically.
A
special group was set up to read the incoming letters. Some
suggestions and advice of insight were relayed to the plan-drafting
panel for reference.
The activity will continue through next spring when the National
People's Congress convenes and examines the plan, Zeng said.
(Xinhua 12/16/2000)