NPC presents a promising future of China
Updated: 2016-03-07 14:20
By Wu Jiangang(chinadaily.com.cn)
|
||||||||
Each year about 3,000 delegates, who represent the most powerful or knowledgeable people around China, arrive in Beijing to join an annual meeting of the National People's Congress, or NPC, the country's top legislature.
As 2016 is first year of the 13th five year plan, this year's meeting will focus on crafting China's development plan for the next five years, which makes the meeting especially noticeable. What's more, the meeting, following a year that saw lowest GDP growth rate for last 25 years, may provide crucial details on how the government plans to control a slowdown in growth while avoiding the systematic risk in the short run and the dreaded "middle-income trap" in the long run.
Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday at the opening of NPC presented the previous year's work and the priorities of 13th five year plan.
Although last year's GDP growth rate, 6.9 percent, was the lowest for a quarter of a century, we may congratulate that the transition of economic growth model, which has appealed for many years, finally began.
For domestic reform, there are structural improvements. The service sector's share of GDP rose to 50.5 percent and for the first time it accounted for more than a "half". Though for most of previous years, the national per capita disposable income growth was lower than the economic growth, last year's 7.4 percent growth rate was faster than the economic growth. Surplus capacity, such as steel production, cement and plate glass capacity is being phased out in an accelerating speed. The deposit rate floating limit has been cancelled and deposit insurance system is being introduced, which would pave the way to financial liberalization. The government introduced policies such as the "Made in China 2025" plan and the "Internet Plus" plan to support manufacturing upgrade and public entrepreneurship and innovation.
For opening-up policy, some important steps have been taken. Shanghai Free Trade Zone practice has been extended to Guangdong, Tianjin and Fujian. Renminbi has been identified as IMF's Currency Composition of Foreign Exchange Reserves. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank was formally established and Silk Road Fund was put into operation.
Though the stock market is volatile, systemic risk has been avoided. In fact, China's stock market is notoriously unrelated to economic fundamentals. But as the capital market will become more important for economic transition, the volatility of stock market shows that the government needs to accumulate more experiences in the capital market management.
Economic transition will be a long process. There are worries for current economic situation.
According to McCarthy's estimation, the ratio of total liability to GDP reached 2.82 in mid-2014 from 2007's 1.58. Among government, financial enterprises, non-financial enterprises and private households, the debt mainly comes from non-financial enterprises, especially State-owned companies. If these companies cannot create enough profit to cover the debts, these debts can become non-performing assets.
The high housing price is also a worry for many. History tells us that such housing prices can easily lead to systemic risk.
- Former US First Lady Nancy Reagan dies at 94
- Solar Impulse 2 back in the air after battery upgrade
- Jailed 'El Chapo' desperate to be extradited
- S. Korea, US to launch formal talks on THAAD
- Kim Jong Un says to further strengthen nuclear weapons in quality
- Spanish Princess testifies in tax fraud trial
- Temple fair with 700 years history staged in Henan
- The world in photos: Feb 29 - Mar 6
- International status is rising
- CEOs at two sessions
- Boao airport all set for upcoming Asian forum
- Snapshots from the 'two sessions'
- Turn of virtual reality cameras at two sessions
- China's home-made expedition mothership 'Zhang Qian' to be launched in March
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Maps show first meeting of East, West |
Spring festival show hits Toronto |
Building education superhighway for youth |
Rep. Mike Honda: serving public from the heart |
China's economy: slowdown clouds reality |
Florida enticing Chinese tourists |
Today's Top News
What ends Jeb Bush's White House hopes
Investigation for Nicolas's campaign
Will US-ASEAN meeting be good for region?
Accentuate the positive in Sino-US relations
Dangerous games on peninsula will have no winner
National Art Museum showing 400 puppets in new exhibition
Finest Chinese porcelains expected to fetch over $28 million
Monkey portraits by Chinese ink painting masters
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |