Home | About | News and Broadcast | Communication | Training | Research | Achievement | China Development Forum | Guestbook | 中文版
NHDR 2005 Launched
Introduction |
Remarks |
Introduction
The developmental goal set by the Chinese Government is to build up a xiaokang society in the first two decades of the 21st century. The xiaokang society refers to the stage of development during which people are in general not rich, but have adequate food, clothing, and other material belongings necessary for a decent life. This is a stage China has to pass through in its drive for modernization. Our next goal is to achieve modernization in all aspects by the mid-21st century.
What China is struggling for in promoting modernization and building up a xiaokang society is not just economic growth, but overall social progress based on economic development, so that all the people can share the fruits of development and reform. To achieve this goal, China has recently put forward the idea of building up a harmonious socialist society, and attached more importance to such policy issues as balancing development between regions and between urban and rural areas, creating more job opportunities, improving social security and public health system, and developing culture, education and other social programs. As the UNDP report indicates, China’s human development index has been continuously upgraded in the world ranking list, which reflects the social progress China has achieved in the past decades. During the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) which is beginning soon,it is expected that China will pay more attention to the issue of social equity and take more actions to promote social development.
Along with the economic reforms and rapid economic growth, China has been witnessing dramatic changes in its social and economic structure. The country is on the way of transition from a dual urban-versus-rural system to a more balanced and integrated modern society. The nature of this change is to shift hundreds of millions of peasants into non-agricultural sectors through the process of industrialization and urbanization. This social restructuring is unprecedented both in depth and in breadth. Obviously, in a country with a population of 1.3 billion and lagged and imbalanced economy, it is a daunting task to achieve rapid and sustainable economic growth, structural change, and social transformation. It will take a long time to accomplish these historical tasks, and there are a great number of policy issues and practical problems that need to be addressed. As these problems and difficulties have emerged in the process of development and reform, they will and should be resolved with measures in line with development and reform. China has a great potential for development and has a bright future. However, historical transformation is more often a thorny road with conflicts and pains, rather than a scenario full of flowers.
The present “China Human Development Report” tells the achievements China has made in social development, the endeavor the country is making, and the policy options the government should consider to promote further development. I believe the report will be helpful for China to build up a xiaokang society and for the international community to have a better understanding of China’s development.
This is the fourth “China Human Development Report”. Unlike the previous three ones which were written by foreign experts and foreign institutions, this report is written by a Chinese expert team organized and coordinated by China Development Research Foundation. We should give our thanks to them for their fine work.
Wang Mengkui President Development Research Center of State Council, PRC Chairman China Development Research Foundation Oct. 15, 2005.