From our archives

April 14, 1984

More freedom for Zhejiang enterprises

The Zhejiang provincial government has decided to grant more autonomy to urban collective enterprises. The provincial government's regulations allow enterprises to change their production, sales, labor and hours according to the market.

Enterprises can also decide on seasonal pricing differences and practice a market-oriented floating pricing system.

Previously, prices were set from above and could remain unchanged for years despite changes in the market and products.

Cultural centers enrich rural life

Local cultural departments are urged to help improve village cultural sub-centers, a recent Culture Ministry circular said.

China currently has more than 32,700 village cultural sub-centers, with the majority funded by the peasants themselves and only 13 percent receiving government investment. Meanwhile, more than 6,000 cultural centers in towns have been set up throughout the country.

These cultural centers have played important roles in enriching peasants' cultural life and spreading scientific farming and new agricultural techniques.

Grain shipper wins legal tangle

A grain shipper in Sichuan province who was accused of profiteering and detained by the authorities has been freed.

Last October, at the height of an anti-crime campaign, the county grain bureau and the industrial and commercial agency accused Jiang Maoquan, a grain merchant and shipper, of speculation and profiteering. He was fined 2,500 yuan. The security bureau placed Jiang in custody in January.

Jiang's wife appealed to the city committee of Chengdu and the county committee. They ruled that Jiang's business had benefited peasants and he had not committed any crime. Jiang was freed last month.

(China Daily 04/15/2009 page9)