Redefining progress

"Dilemma" is the word used in the report on government work to describe the tasks facing China. The word describes appropriately the real challenges facing the country on the socio-economic road ahead.

We do possess some "systematic advantages" that few others can rival, such as efficiency in mobilizing public resources. But even the old conundrums such as runaway housing prices and wasteful and polluting growth now demand more a sophisticated weighing and balancing act.

An inspiring sign in Wen's report to the National People's Congress comes from what he said should be learnt from last year's achievement - to properly address both short-term and long-term concerns.