President Hu Jintao said in Beijing yesterday that the country must earnestly implement the scientific concept of development if it wants to attain various development goals set for the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006-10).

"The scientific concept of development is a guiding principle that must be adhered to for a long period in order to promote our country's reform, opening-up and socialist modernization drive," said Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, while joining in a group discussion of lawmakers from Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

The lawmakers are here for the fourth session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), the national legislature, which opened yesterday morning.

"We shall make all-out efforts to do every thing that conforms to the scientific concept of development, and never hesitate to abandon anything that goes against the concept," stressed Hu.

While exchanging ideas with the Tibetan lawmakers, Hu, who once served as Party chief in Tibet, pointed out that development is the key to the solution of all problems the autonomous region is faced with.

"The State will continue to implement the strategy of developing the western regions and will increase its support for Tibet in the coming five years. I hope all officials and people in Tibet can seize this rare opportunity and strive hard for the long-term prosperity and stability in the region," Hu added.

'Harmonious society'

Top legislator Wu Bangguo called for the implementation of the 11th Five-Year Plan under the guidance of scientific development.

The chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, said it would serve as the guideline for people of all ethnic groups in the drive to build a socialist harmonious society if it is approved. Wu called for more substantial efforts in economic restructuring and upgrading the pattern of economic growth.

Meanwhile, Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, told a panel of national legislators from Beijing that the city must be fully prepared to stage a great event in 2008 when it hosts the Olympic Games.

The Games will constitute impetus for Beijing's development and the capital city should seize the opportunity, Qia said.

With such a favourable environment, Beijing should put its advantages in technology and human resources into full play to boost its economic and social development, he said.

Vice-President Zeng Qinghong also underscored the significance of the scientific concept of development in carrying out the new Five-Year Plan while joining NPC deputies from Jiangxi Province in an examination of the premier's report.

The new plan is a start for building a socialist harmonious society, an innovative country and a new socialist countryside, said Zeng, adding that the bold drive is to be promoted under the guidance of the concept of scientific development.

(China Daily 03/06/2006 page2)

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