Deng Xiaoping Chairman of the Central Military Commission (P
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK BeijingR-r China Elects New Leaders • The First Session of the Seventh NPC elected Yang VOL. 3t. NO. 16 APRlf, 18-24. Shangkun as PRC president and Li Peng as premier ofthe State Couticil. Wan Li was elected chairman of the Seventh NPC CONTENTS Standing Committee and Deng Xiaoping chairman of the Central Military Commission (p. 5J. NOTES FROM THE EDITORS 4 The Seventh CPPCC National Committee ended its first MH' No LonjiL-r a I»l;Hloiin session with the election of Li Xiannian as chairman and the Of One Voice approval of a political resolution (p. 6). S-9 For profiles of the leaders, see centrefold. China Elects State Leaders* CPPCC Session Completes CPPCC Members on State Affairs Tasks ProgreNS Made in Legal S\^lcn1 • At the First Session of the Seventh CPPCC National Ami-Crmic Drive Briiiiis Committee, many CPPCC members aired their views on state Results affairs and raised criticisms about such problems as pricing, " China R^fltrtns Policy education and social conduct — subjects of much concern to On Students the public (p. 17). Tobacco or Health: Choose Health NPC—A Platform for IVIore Than One Voice . HK Panef to Hold 7ih .Session • The first sessions of the Seventh NPC and the Seventh INTERNA110NAL 10-13 CPPCC National Committee evidenced an increasing United .States: .Siuili/ Returns democracy in the open expression of opinions, suggestions and To the Middle Past criticisms about the government's work by deputies, elections Elhiopta-Somalta: Diplomatic with more candidates than posts, and the wider press coverage Reiations Restored with conference participation by Chinese and foreien reporters Argentina: Financial Tr<iuhlcs (p. 4). Slir Social Connict "I'oiir Drauons" l-njo\ Economic Success Tibetan Leaders Face the Press Indonesia: Suharto to Serve Mfth Term a? President • Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme and Bainqen Erdini Qoigyi Gyaincain, Tibetan leaders and deputies to the Seventh NPC, Tibetan Uwcters on the "nbet discussed the recent unrest in Tibet and answered questions posed by Chinese and foreign reporters (p. 14). CPPCC Members on State 14 Affairs Fujian Attracts Taiwan Investment Taiwan Businessmen Invest in 17 • With the improvement in Fujian's investment climate, many 20 [Democratic Party Active in Taiwan business people are keen to invest in the province. Though considered as domestic capital, investments by Taiwan 21 businessmen will enjoy more preferential terms than foreign The ABC of Investing in China (XII): investments (p. 20). Insurance Service 24 DOCUMENTS: Profiles of New Leaders 26-34 BUSINESS/niADE 35-36 COVER: Newly elected PRC President BOOKS 37 Yang Shangkun (right) and NPC tETTEHS 38-39 Standing Committee Chairman Wan Li. CULTURE/SCIENCE 40-42 Liu Jianguo Published every Monday by Subscription rates (1 year): USA., US$24.00 BEIJING REVIEW General Editorial Office Tel: 8314318 Australia A.$24.00 Canada Can.$23.00 24 Baiwanzhuang Road, English Dept Tel: 831.5599 Ext. 546 New Zealand NZ.$33.00 Beijing 100037 Distributed by China International Book UK £13.00 The Peoples Republic of China Trading Corporation (GUOJI SHUDIAN) P.O. Box 399, Beijing, China •i NOTES FROM THE EDITORS NPC No Longer a Platform of One Voice by Zhou Minyi eldom before, if ever, has a for years before being tabled for spoken; and the "rubber stamp" S democratic atmosphere been discussion and approval at the was becoming harder. so pervasive as at the First Session recent session. The Sixth NPC The surprisingly rapid progress of the Seventh National People's Standing Committee deliberated towards democracy has answered Congress recently held in Beijing. on many occasions before the the calls for reform and opening to Deputies vied to take the floor, draft was released in January for the world. Without the enthusias• voicing their opinions of nominees nationwide discussions. More tic response of the masses, these to the seven special committees than 1,800 opinions and sugges• needs could hardly be met. The under the National People's tions calling for modifications progress of economic reform Congress. The result has been that were collected. In the light of these makes reform of the political few nominees, if any, take up their opinions, the Sixth NPC Standing structure increasingly urgent, and responsibilities with unanimous Committee once again amended democracy is an important part of consensus. The nominees to the the draft before forwarding it to this political reform. Education, Science, Culture and the recent session for final The 13th Party Congress held Public Health Committee, for approval. last October suggested the es• example, were passed with eight A similar atmosphere prevailed tablishment of a system of votes against and 69 abstentions, a at the First Session of the Seventh consultation and dialogue, so that break with the traditional "raising National Committee of the what is going on at higher levels of the hand" of past sessions. Chinese People's Political Consul• could be promptly relayed to The session has struck many tative Conference. Committee lower levels and vice versa, and a people with some of its members spoke out either at the greater understanding could be innovations — the attendance of session or during panel fostered between people on all more non-Party deputies and the discussions. levels. It also suggested that the multi-candidate election, to name More than 400 Chinese and activities of the government and just two. Another hot issue is the foreign reporters covered the two Party departments be more openly discussion of the government sessions as well as the panel carried out to keep people work report. Deputies offered discussions. Many news briefings acquainted with matters of great their opinions and suggestions and and live TV broadcasts have niade consequence and let them partici• aired their criticisms about the it easy to keep up with any pate in discussions on major meagre allocations for education, developments. issues. This would, at the same the price hikes and bureaucracy. To give all people an opportun• time, give more scope to the Discussing the restructuring of ity for input in the sessions, many supervisory role of public opinion. the State Council, deputies news media organizations set up Socialist democracy has made disagreed about the proposed "hot lines" to invite public much headway since the 13th merger of the Ministry of discussions and some newspapers Party Congress, and the masses Railways, the Ministry of Com• started special columns giving full have become more interested in munications and the Civil Avi• coverage of the opinions and participating in government and ation Administration of China suggestions of the deputies. The political affairs. Democracy was into a new Ministry of Transport. two sessions were therefore far also seen in the elections of The State Council responded by more open than before. provincial and municipal leaders, withdrawing the original proposal Representatives of foreign news and deputies to the recent and agreeing to keep the three media admitted that the two National People's Congress. government departments sessions gave an idea of the strides There is little knowledge of separate. towards democracy being made in China in the world because the Drafts for an Enterprise Law China; the remarks of some country has been shut off from the have been discussed and modified deputies were surprisingly out• outside for quite a long time. 4 BEIJING REVIEW. APRIL 18-24, 1988 m EVENTS/TRENDS •••••••••••M China Elects State Leaders ang Shangkun has been elected chairmen of the Central Military Ypresident and Wang Zhen vice- Commission. president of the People's Republic The Standing Committee merh- of China. Wan Li has been elected bers were elected from 144 chairman of the Standing Com• candidates. It was the first time in mittee of the Seventh National the history of China's legislature People's Congress, and Deng that there was a competitive China is now making a point of Xiaoping chairman of the election for the committee. opening its doors and expanding country's Central Military Com• Song Ping, executive chairman economic and technical exchange mission. (For profiles of the of the presidium of the First and co-operation with other leaders, see centrefold) Session of the Seventh NPC, countries. China' needs to know A total of 2,883 NPC deputies answered questions raised by the the world and be known by the participated in the election, which deputies. One deputy noted that world. The world needs to took place on April 8. They also among the candidates for the understand its policies, the present elected 19 vice-chairmen, the Standing Committee, some still situation, history, cultural tra• secretary-general and 135 mem• held government posts. The dition and its investment climate. bers of the NPC Standing deputy asked whether it was The full coverage of the two Committee. appropriate to elect these people. sessions provided by both Chinese At the next day's meeting of the Song answered that acording to and foreign reporters offers an NPC, Li Peng, who wasth e Constitution, once they are opportunity to see what is going nominated for the post of premier elected to the Standing Commit• on in China today. of the State Council by President tee, they will resign from their In a socialist country the people Yang, was elected China's fourth government posts. are the masters. The first premier. The NPC deputies also elected Constitution adopted by the First Yang and Zhao Ziyang, general Ren Jianxin as president of the National People's Congress in secretary of the Communist Party Supreme People's Court and Liu 1954 marked the establishment of of China, were elected the vice- Fuzhi as procurator-general of the this view of a socialist democratic system. Unfortunately the con• struction of this system went astray.