From our archives

China Daily | Updated: 2009-03-11 07:48

March 3, 1984

Small private enterprises hailed as "indispensable"

Small private enterprises will continue to play an important role in the Chinese economy. The rapid growth of individual commercial and industrial enterprises in recent years has stimulated the market, made more goods available, and eased youth unemployment.

China's individual enterprises were in the handicraft industry, small family businesses, private commerce, catering, repair and other service trades, and transportation.

In the past 34 years, development of individual enterprises has seen ups and downs. But they are now encouraged as an indispensable part of China's economy.

Laws in urgent need to protect wildlife

Widespread hunting of wildlife in China's countryside has already resulted in the near-extinction of many species of rare birds and animals and the disruption of the ecological balance in many rural areas. This situation will continue until we have laws to protect wildlife.

The losses caused by rodent pests in monetary terms run to billions of yuan each year, and are the direct result of unrestricted hunting of such wildlife as owls, weasels and snakes, all of which are known as natural enemies of rodents.

Protection of wildlife would be impossible without the backing of specific laws.