HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK BeijingR^^ir

VOL. 34, NO. 13 APRIL 1-7, 1991

NPC Meets for 90s Development CONTENTS

• China's National People's Congress, the highest organ of state power, is having its annual session March 25-April 9 to NOTES FROM THE EDITORS 4 hammer at an ambitious programme for the country's econo• mic development in the last decade of this century (p. 5). Possible Solution to Middle East Question

Yuan Mu Interviewed on China's Development EVENTS/TRENDS 5 8 Strategy Setting the Tune for New Economic Boom • Entrusted by President Yang Shangkun, Yuan Mu, spokes• man for the State Council and director of the State Council Taiwan's 'Programme' Policy Research Office, recently had a talk with US journalist 'Impractical' Harrison E. Salisbury. A conversation between the two (p. 12). State Farms Hold Trade Fair

An Early Solution to Mideast Issue Imperative News in Brief

• Now that the Gulf war has ended, a solution to the Middle INTERNATIONAL East question is urgently needed. China favours a fair and reasonable solution through political channels with the parti• Thoughts on Human Rights cipation of all parties concerned and supports the convening Conference 9 of an international peace conference under the auspices of the United Nations (p. 4). Soviet Referendum Supports Union 10 Democratic Parties Active in Political Forum CHINA

• China's multi-party co-operation under the leadership of the Looking Towards Modernization Chinese Communist Party is realized through the holding of by the Mid-21st Century 12 leading posts in the state and the government by both demo• Democrats Active in Political cratic party and non-party members. This article introduces Forum 23 several members of democratic parties on their assumption of important posts in the government and judicial organs (p. 23). CDL Advises on Yellow River Development 27 Taiwan's 'Reunification Programme' Considered CULTURE/SCIENCE 32 34 •Impractical' COVER: Pan Beilei (second from D The "national reunification programme" adopted recently right), an alternate member of the Cen• tral Committee of the Jiu San Society by the Taiwan authorities is considered "impractical" because and a vice-minister of Light Industry, its purpose is to seek diplomatic "dual recognition." Renmin visits the Beijing Huayi Cloisonne Fac• Ribao in a commentary urged the Taiwan authorities to cast tory to see how production progresses away illusions and take practical steps towards reunification there. of the motherland (p. 7), Photo by Xu Xiangjun

General Editorial Office Published every Monday by BEIJING REVIEW Subscription rates (1 year): Tel; 8314318 24 Baiwanzhuang Road, Beijing 100037 Australia Jk,$33.60 TLX: 222374 FLPDA CN The People's Republic of China New Zealand NZ.$45.00 FAX: 8314318 Distributed by China International Book UK 18.00 English Dept. Tel: 8315599 Ext. 546 Trading Corporation (GUOJI SHUDIAN) USA US$33.80 P.O. Box 399, Beijing. China Canada Can.$33.80 NOTES FROM THE EDITORS

Possible Solution to Middle East Question

by Our Guest Commentator Shi Jian

ecause of its strategic position and rich natur• struggle against Israel for recovering lost territo• al resources, the Middle East is a region ries and regaining their national rights. B coveted by many powers, leading to numer• The historical lesson of the decades-long turbul• ous crises. The question of longest standing and ence in the Middle East region demonstrates that one greatly influencing world peace is the Arab- the absence of a solution to the Middle East ques• Israeli conflict. tion, with the Palestinian question at its heart, is In November 1947, the UN Security Council the root cause of the persistent turmoil. adopted a resolution for the partition of Palestine The Chinese people have always sympathized into two states: one Jewish and one Arab. On May with and supported the Palestinian and other Arab 14, 1948, the State of Israel was established. The peoples in their just cause. China supports the next day, the first Middle East war broke out Palestinian people in their just struggle to regain between Arab countries and Israel, and thus began national rights and favours a fair and reasonable a long succession of Arab-Israeli conflicts. Again solution to the Middle East question through pol• in 1956, 1967 and 1973 wars erupted. In the four itical channels. Middle East wars, Israel occupied a large stretch The end of the Gulf war makes the need for a of Arab land, involving Palestinian territories. settlement imperative. The settlement of the Mid• Millions of Palestinians became refugees. The cur• dle East question should be achieved at an earliest rent thrust of Middle East and Palestinian ques• possible date. As a permanent member of the UN tions came into being then. Security Council, China bears responsibility for maintaining peace in the Middle East and the Many proposals towards a resolution have been world. It will continue its efforts to promote the advanced by the international community and oth• Middle East peace process along with other mem• er concerned parties. The United Nations also bers of the international community. adopted a series of related resolutions. All these efforts have gradually promoted the Arab-Israeli The Chinese government suggests: conflicts to develop towards political settlement —The Middle East question should be resolved but not military confrontation. In 1988 and 1989 through political channels and all parties con• the Middle East issue saw a prospect for a peaceful cerned should refrain from resort to force; settlement. However, since the beginning of the —China supports the convening of an interna• 1990s, the Middle East region has been greatly tional peace conference on the Middle East under influenced by changes in the international struc• the UN auspices with the participation of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council ture and the situation has again become tense. A and all parties concerned; large number of Jews immigrated to Israel, the United States stopped talks with the Palestine Lib• —China supports the efforts of the parties con• eration Organization (PLO) and the Israeli gov• cerned with the Middle East question to conduct ernment hardened its attitude towards the Pales• dialogues of various forms as deemed appropriate, including direct dialogue between the PLO and tinian question. Efforts of the PLO and Arab Israel; nations to seek a political settlement were threa• tened. The outbreak of the Gulf crisis negatively —Israel must stop its suppression of the Palesti• influenced the Middle East peace process, throw-, nian people in the occupied territories and with• draw from the occupied Arab territories, and cor• ing Arab-Israeli conflicts out of the focus. But with respondingly, the security of Israel should also be the end of the Gulf war, world attention was again guaranteed; and focused on the Middle East and Palestinian ques• tions. —The State of Palestine and Israel should recog• nize each other and the Arab and Jewish nations China has persisted over the years in making an should coexist in peace. unremitting effort to promote the solution of the China also considers that for many years the Middle East and Palestinian questions. China has PLO has been accepted by all the Palestinian peo• always considered the core of the Middle East ple and broadly recognized in the Arab world and issue to be the Palestinian question with its crux the international community as a whole as the being Israel's invasion and expansion against Pa• representative of the Palestinian people. In solving lestine and other Arab countries. Also crucial to the Palestinian question, the PLO should be in• the question is the Palestinian and Arab people's cluded. . •

BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7, 1991 EVENTS/TRENDS

Setting the Tune for New Economic Boom

ihe moftth is March. The topic of the nation is March, when nearly 3,000 deputies to T, China's supreme legislature are gathering in Beijing to scrutinize an economic strategy for the "New Long March" — the modernization drive. The 4th Session of the 7th National People's Congress (NPC) opened on March 25 with its focus on the deliberation of the 10-year pro• gramme (1991-2000) and the Eighth Five-Year Plan (1991-95) for national economic and social development. The draft blueprints' were ham• mered out and passed by the Party Central Com• mittee last December. China began its modernization drive in the late 1970s, and, towards the end of the 1980s, met its Premier Li Peng. first goal by doubling the 1980 GNP.

Deputies to the National People's Congress are listening to Li Peng's report.

BEIJING REVIEW', APRIL 1-7, 1991 EVENTS/TRENDS

Now comes the time for achieving the nation's second goal: to quadruple the 1980 GNP by the end of the century, secure a fairly comfortable stan• dard of living for the people, and pave the way for futher econo• mic gains in the next century. In his report to the session. Premier Li Peng said, "Our achievements in the 1980s were great." He attributed the accom• plishments to the socialist system and the policy of reform and opening to the outside world. In 1990, Li said, the annual disposable income for urban resi• dents averaged 1,387 yuan per Tlie National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference capita while the the per-capita opens its plenary on March 23. net income for peasants was 630 yuan, 68.1 percent and 123.9 per• have a better life than ever be• satisfied all the time. Complaints cent respectively over 1980, after fore. and criticism are commonplace. "Only a dozen years ago, you The growing pains could be felt allowing for price rises. in almost every field. The 1980s saw a "greater im• wouldn't see such plentiful mar• provement in the people's living kets as we see now, nor would There is, as Li mentioned in you expect your food basket to his report, a serious stockpiling standards than in any other pre• of products and manufactued vious decade," Li said. be full of vegetables, fruits, eggs, goods, and circulation in the Few people, however, remem• meat, fish, etc. Now, you can economy is not smooth. "The ber the major economic indica• almost get whatever food you state is experiencing financial tors pertaining to the country's want," said a Beijing housewife. difficulties with a conspicuous growth and the increase of the "I understand neither politics imbalance between revenue and people's incomes. And it is not nor economics. All I know is we expenditure...and there are still hard to find passersby in the are better-off than before. That's some destabilizing factors in streets who claim they do not enough. What else do you want?" spite of the fact that we have know much about statistics, but Not all the people are satisfied achieved political stability and almost everyone is aware of the with the country's situation or unity," he added. fact that the Chinese people now their own lot, neither are people Li said his government will take these problems seriously Members of CPPCC are discussing. XUECHAO and try its best to solve them. The 16-day NFC meeting will appoint some functionaries to the cabinet, including vice- premiers and state councillors, according to an NPC deputy. The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), known as the "brain trust" of the Party and the gov• ernment, began its plenary on March 23 and it will conclude on April 4. Generally, the annual meet• ings of the NPC and CPPCC are held almost simultaneously dur- I ing March and April. by Staff Reporter Li Haibo

BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7, 1991 EVENTS/TRENDS

Taiwan's 'Programme' sentative offices and sign equity as well as the conver• agreements of an official na• sion of the armed forces into 'Impractical' ture with countries which a state army and discuss (to• have established diplomatic gether with the Taiwan au• r • ihe Taiwan authorities relations with the People's thorities) the great cause of I are urged to cast away Republic of China, in pursuit reunification." illusions and actively of so-called "pragmatic di• In addition, some persons promote relations on both plomacy" and "dual recogni• among the Taiwan author• sides of the Taiwan Straits. A tion." ities stated that the objective practical attitude would help Now the Taiwan authori• of their mainland policy is promote reunification of the ties have included in the to "transform the mainland motherland. programme some bargaining peacefully" and its basic prin• Commenting on the "na• chips to earn the mainland's ciple is to "conduct, step by tional reunification pro• recognition as a so-called in• step, cultural and economic gramme" adopted recently by dependent and equal "politi• exchanges and contact so as the Taiwan authorities, a cal entity," so that the two to transform the regime of commentary of Renmin Ri- sides could "respect, not ex• the Chinese Communist Par• bao (People's Daily) said, the clude, each other in the inter• ty. Contact on a political level programme gave some signi• national community." This will come last, thus accom• ficant indications concerning runs counter to the interests plishing the reunification of the direct exchanges of mail, of the people on both sides China by way of democracy, trade and air and shipping of the straits as well as the freedom and common pros• services, contacts, mutual Chinese nation, the commen• perity." high-level visits and consul• tary indicated. This is not a practical or tations for the reunification. According to international wise choice, but an unrealis• Such indications conform to law, it is impossible for one tic illusion, the commentary the historical tide. country to have two equal said. However, the commentary governments. The so-called It also said that the reunifi• said, the programme, as the "dual recognition" can only cation of the motherland is a Taiwan authorities' "future lead to "two Chinas," or "one great cause with bearing on leading principle governing China, one Taiwan," it can interests of the Chinese on policies towards the main• only lead to separation rather both sides of the straits and land," is also open to ques• than to reunification. all over the world. tion. After decades of hostility The commentary urged the The programme urges each and estrangement, each side Taiwan authorities to take side of the straits "not to ne• of the straits has established a practical steps toward real ac• gate the other side as a polit• different social system. Not complishments in the cause ical entity on a reciprocal evading the reality, the main• of the national reunification. basis" and to "respect, not ex• land has set forth the princi• clude, the other in the inter• ple of "one country, two sys• national community." This tems" for the reunification, actually is Taiwan's attempt which means the two sides to pass itself as an indepen• may practise different social State Farms dent political entity in the systems within the prerequis• international community and ite of one country. This is the Hold Trade Fair seek the so-called diplomat• most realistic way to realize ic "dual recognition." Such peaceful reunification of the ore than 10,000 dif• a demand is completely im• motherland. ferent kinds of com• practical, said the Renmin Ri- However, the Taiwan au• M modities were on sale bao commentary. thorities wanted the main• at the 9th National Farm In recent years, the Taiwan land to "follow the principle Product Trade Fair in authorities have tried various of political democracy, eco• Guangzhou March 28- means to set up official repre• nomic freedom and social April 1.

BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7, 1991 EVENTS/TRENDS

Sponsored by a corporation construct and continue its ties. of state farms established on support for Kuwait's de• Li expressed China's will• reclaimed land, the fair pre• mands for restoration of its ingness to keep a trade bal• sented grains, oil, liquors, tea, legitimate rights at the UN ance between the two coun• milk products, fruits, clothes, Security Council. They hoped tries. household articles, electric the Sino-Kuwaiti friendly re• China welcomes the active appliances, chemical and lations and co-operation attitude of the Japan Nation• medicinal products and would further develop. al Oil Corporation towards building materials. Nearly The Kuwaiti minister ap• opening up oil fields in the 2,000 of the products on dis• preciated the Chinese govern• Tarim Basin in Northwest play won provincial, state or ment's sympathy and support China, the premier said. world prizes. The total vol• for the Kuwaiti people during ume of business at the fair their crises, vowing that his China, France reached more than one bil• compatriots will not fail to Seek Consultation lion yuan. live up to the expectations of Chinese and French senior Besides domestic business the world. deplomats have agreed that organizations, the fair was Al-Awadhi was the first the two countries gradually also attended by guests from Kuwaiti high-ranking official move towards normal rela• Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan to visit China since the na• tions and further develop and foreign countries. tion regained its independ• them. The corporation is com• ence and sovereignty. The two sides expressed posed of 2,173 state-run readiness to increase their farms, whose 5.16 million Lifting of Sanctions consultation on such interna• workers are engaged in a Against Iraq Urged tional issues as the Middle large assortment of work East and Cambodian prob• A Chinese Foreign Minis• in agriculture, industry and lems. try spokesman said at a news commerce. Service industry, Chinese Vice-Minister of briefing on March 21 that transportation and construc• Foreign Affairs Tian Zengpei the international community tion acquired tangible progess and visiting French State Se• should consider an earliest on these farms as well. Last cretary to the Foreign Minis• possible lifting of economic year they exported 2.9 billion try Theirry de Beauce made sanctions against Iraq. yuan worth of goods. the remarks at a Beijing by Staff Reporter Han The spokesman reasoned meeting March 2L Baocheng that a ceasefire of the Gulf war is achieved and that the Political Reform innocent Iraqi people are Urged on S.Africa having serious difficulties in | daily life. On the United Nations In• News in Brief He made the remarks in ternational Day for the Eli• response to questions on Chi• mination of Racial Discrimi• na's view on the French pro• nation, Li Peng called on Kuwaiti IVIinister posal to lift the economic South African President F. In Beijing sanctions imposed on Iraq. M. de Klerk to speed up his efforts to abolish the basic Chinese President Yang Sino-Japanese Ties apartheid legislations in the Shangkun, Premier Li Peng Back on Course country. and Foreign Minister Qian Although positive changes Qichen met seperately on At a meeting with Eiichi have taken place in South Af• March 20 visiting Kuwaiti Nakao, Japanese minister of rica since last year. President Minister of State for Cabinet international trade and in• de Klerk's promise to remove Affairs A. R. Al-Awadhi. dustry. Premier Li Peng said obstacles from constitutional The Chinese leaders ex• that China was pleased with negotiations had not been ful• pressed China's readiness to the progress made for the full ly honoured, the Chinese pre• do its best to help Kuwait re• restoration of Sino-Japanese mier noted. •

if BEJJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7, 1991 INTERNATIONAL

Soviet Referendum Supports Union

by Dan Lin

ihree quarters of those vot• can take part in ing in the Soviet Union's the referendum on T first national referendum a voluntary basis March 17 favoured a renewed and that the listed Soviet federation. question can be re• According to Vladimir Orlov, garded as resolved chairman of the Supreme So• as long as more viet's referendum committee, 82 than 50 percent of percent of eligible voters cast eligible voters par• ballots and 76 percent of the vot• ticipate and more ers voted "yes." than half of the Six republics—Moldova, voters vote yes. Georgia, Armenia, Lithuania, The referendum Estonia and Latvia—refused to came at a time participate, prompting local offi• when the Soviet cials to set up polling stations of Union is deeply their own. In some republics and plagued by grow• regions, authorities added their ing independence- own questions for voters to de- oriented forces in cicde. many of its 15 re• In the Russian Federation, publics and deter• for example, voters were asked' iorating economic about electing their own presi• conditions. Found• dent, a position the radical Rus• ed on December sian leader Boris Yeltsin is ex• 30, 1922, the Soviet A Muscovite casts her ballot on March 17. pected to win. In the Western Union is composed Ukraine and the three Baltic re• of more than 100 nationalities ernment and even openly seek• publics, people were asked with no one in a predominant ing Western support and inter• whether they want a fully inde• position. In the course of nearly vention in an attempt to break pendent state. 70 years of development, prob• away from the Union. So deep The main question in the re• lems of ethnic rights and econ- is the social crisis in the Soviet ferendum is: Do you think it ne• momic development have accu• Union, intermingled by political, cessary to preserve the Union of mulated. ethnic, economic and social con• Soviet Socialist Republics as a With the unfolding of Presi• flicts, that the newspaper Soviet renewed federation of equal sov• dent Mikhail Gorbachev's peres- Russia said, "A world power is ereign republics, in which hu• troika (restructuring) and glas- on the verge of life and death." man rights and liberties will be nost (openness), opposition or• The Communist Party of the fully guaranteed for all national• ganizations have sprung up, and Soviet Union (CPSU) stands for ities? ethnic problems have surfaced. maintaining and renewing the The referendum was conduct• With the encouragement and in• Union, believing that for all na• ed in accordance with a resolu• citement of opposition forces, se• tionalities, unity rather than dis• tion adopted last December at cessionist forces have grown rap• integration is in the best interest the Fourth Congress of People's idly and inter-ethnic violence of all. The status quo is that al• Deputies, which formulated a has erupted. Some republics un• most 75 million Soviets, or one law on this referendum. The law ilaterally declared "independ• quarter of the population, are stipulates that any Soviet citizen ence," refusing to carry out laws living in the so-called "non- above 18 who enjoys voting right and decisions of the central gov• native" republics. The CPSU ins-

BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7,1991 INTERNATIONAL

ists that only by joining togeth• it, claiming that they would im• the CPSU Central Committee er can the country's nationali• pose sanctions against those lo• pointed out that "forces aimed at ties surmount the crisis and pres• cal governments that took part in altering the Soviet Union's so• erve the moral, cultural and so• the voting. In the Russian Fed• cial system have completely tak• cial wealth that has already been eration, some organizations bent en shape and are trying to unite. achieved. The CPSU found sup• on opposing the CPSU and so• They are attempting to remove port from the Congress of Peo• cialism and taking over power from government those who are ple's Deputies and the majority called on the voters to oppose the supportive of the socialist choice Union. A Russian leader even and turn the present perestroika of members of the Supreme So• wanted to "declare a political retrogressive and anti-people." viet, the country's parliament. war against the central govern• The CPSU is amassing forces An intensive political struggle ment." His remarks came under to protect the Union, uphold so• was waged around the referen• fire from various quarters. cialism and oppose the restora• dum. President Gorbachev, par• The struggle, as it turned out, tion of capitalism in the Soviet liament and government leaders is a continuation of the battle Union. Referendum results show and the CPSU called on the peo• between "two different goals and that the Soviet people thirst for ple to take an active part in the political policies" on the Soviet stability and unity, thus streng• voting and support the Union, political stage. In an analysis of thening the pro-Union and pro- while the six republics boycotted the current situation in January, socialist forces. •

Thoughts on Human Rights Conference

Fan Guoxiang* or some time now, the Unit• guideline for dealing with hu• other countries and to exert pol- ed Nations Commission on man rights issues is the United •itical pressure on small and weak F Human Rights and other Nations Charter which seeks countries. competent organizations within to achieve "international co• It is my feeling that this at• the UN system have been consi- operation in solving internation• titude has undermined interna• derng how to better and al problems of an economic, so• tional co-operation in the field of more effectively promote human cial, cultural, or humanitarian human rights, poisoned interna• rights and fundamental free• character, and in promoting and tional relations and impeded the doms. The Chinese delegation encouraging respect for human realization of the objective of welcomes the forthcoming 1993 rights and for fundamental free• promoting the furtherance of hu• World Conference on Human doms for all without distinction man rights. Rights. It is eager, together with as to race, sex, language, or reli• Now that big changes have other countries, to actively par• gion." Nevertheless, in my opi• taken place in international rela• ticipate in preparations and in nion, for too long a period of tions, the abnormal phenomena making contributions necesssary time, the UN organizations con• in the field of human rights with• to assure success of the confer• sidering human rights issues in the UN system, which were ence. Herewith, I would like to have been shrouded in a cold- created by confrontation and state our views and propositions war atmosphere characterized by "cold war" antics, should, in my on some issues related to the fierce confrontation between op• opinion, be redressed and elimi• 1993 conference agenda. posing political groups and ideo• nated. The United Nations basic logies. The practice of double The 1993 World Conference standards, selectiveness and util• on Human Rights should, first of * itarianism has been prevalent. all, bring about some changes in Excerpts of a speech made by Chinese Some countries have used hu• this aspect. The major purposes Ambassador Fan Guoxiang at the 47th man rights issues as an instru• of the conference should be the session of the United Nations Commis• sion on Human Rights recently held in ment to pursue power politics, to promotion of normal interna• Geneva. interfere in the internal affairs of tional co-operation in the field of

BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7,1991 INTERNATIONAL human rights and of harmony, to development. For this reason, crimination, apartheid, colonial• mutual understanding and res• the 1993 conference, in examing ism, foreign aggression, occupa• pect among all member states. and reviewing UN work in the tion and domination, as well as The conference should give ex• field of human rights, should not by refusal to recognize the right pression to the views on human limit itself to the definition con• to self-determination and full rights held by countries of differ• tained in the Universal Declara• sovereignty of countries over ent poUtical, economic and social tion. It should also take into their wealth and natural re• systems or with different histori• consideration the principles esta• sources. The resolution reiterat• cal, religious and cultural back• blished in other important hu• ed the principle of giving equal grounds. And the conference man rights instruments, which attention to the enjoyment of should be held in the spirit of have reflected the desire of a ma• economic, social and cultural seeking common grounds while jority of countries since World rights and the enjoyment of civil putting aside differences, of mu• War 11. Here I would like to and political rights. It also em• tual respect and better mutual mention, in particular, the Teh• phasized that full realization of understanding, and of enhancing eran Proclamation adopted by civil and political rights without co-operation and mutual encour• the 1968 International Confer• the enjoyment of economic, so• agement. ence on Human Rights. The Teh• cial and cultural rights is impos• sible. The achievement of lasting The practice of furthering eran Proclamation reflects many progress in the implementation one's own ideology and values by new developments in interna• of human rights is dependent using human rights issues as a tional human rights activities upon the establishment of sound since the Universal Declaration tool or of interfering in the inter• and effective national and in• was adopted and has set objec• nal affairs of other countries un• ternational policies of economic tives which the United Nations der the pretext of human rights and social development. will, no doubt, plunge the confer• should strive to realize from that ence into an atmosphere of the time forward. These basic principles, stipu• lated in Resolution 32/130, re• "cold war" and confrontation The 1993 Conference on Hu• flect the reality in the inter• prevalent in the years past. It man Rights is another inter• national community and the is my belief that these practices national conference on human common understanding of the should be firmly avoided from rights following the Teheran con• international community of the very beginning. Only by ference. Hopefully, one of its ma• ways of promoting human rights. doing so, can we take the oppor• jor agenda items will be review Since the adoption of the resolu• tunity provided by the prepara• of the progress and results tion, the UN system has taken tion for the conference to esta• achieved in the human rights measures for implementation. blish correct guidelines in the field since the adoption of the This merits appreciation. The field of human rights, and to Teheran Proclamation as well current international situation is genuinely realize the purpose as examination of existing prob• very different from that at the .of promoting international co• lems. time of the 32nd session of the operation for protecting human In promoting the protection of UN General Assembly. Yet the rights and fundamental free• human rights, how to handle the kind of mass violations of human doms, as stipulated in the UN relationship between civil and rights as pointed out in the re• Charter. political rights on the one hand, solution still exist. The gap be• Since the adoption of the and economic, social and cultur• tween the North and the South Universal Declaration on Hu• al rights, as well as various col• in development levels and the man Rights, the UN system lective rights on the other, is an current international economic has successively formulated and outstanding question being stu• order still constitute major obsta• adopted many instruments on died and explored continuously cles to the full enjoyment of hu• human rights, thus greatly en• by the UN human rights organi• man rights by a large number of riching and developing the con• zations. developing countries. Therefore, cept of human rights as defined It was exactly on such a basis in our view, the 1993 confer• in the Universal Declaration. To• that the UN General Assembly ence should pay great attention day, human rights under our dis• adopted Resolution 32/130 in to these problems in this respect cussion are no longer confined 1977. The resolution explicitly and work out concrete measures to civil and political rights; they pointed out that in approaching for further implementation of also include economic, social and human rights questions, the UN .Resolution 32/130, thus promot• cultural rights, as well as collec• system should accord priority to ing early solutions to the most tive rights such as the right to the mass violations of human important problems in the hu• self-determination and the right rights resulting from racial dis• man rights field of our times. •

BEIJING KEVIEW, APRIL 1-7,1991 11 CHINA

Entrusted by President Yang Shangi

Looking Towards Modernization By the Mid-21st Century

by Our staff Reporter Dong Yuguo

Salisbury: I know you have a steps. The first step called for ning this year, we will work hard very deep understanding of gov• doubling the 1980 gross national to achieve the second step, which ernment policies and that you product in the ten years between calls for an average annual eco• also have a good idea about Chi• 1981 and 1990 and basically nomic growth of about 6 per• na's future prospects. Could you solving the problem of food and cent over ten years. This rate of speak about these in some detail? clothing for the people. The se• growth is somewhat lower than Yuan Mu: A few days ago, cond step called for doubling the the speed of development which when President Yang Shangkun 1990 GNP in the ten years be• we have achieved in the 1980s. met you, he outlined the econo• tween 1991 and 2000 and ena• In the 1980s, as we carried out mic and social development plan bling the people to lead a well-to- the Sixth and Seventh Five-Year for the next ten years. I will now do life. The third step envisioned Plans, the economic growth rate give you some more details and catching up with the moderately reached 10.1 percent during the do my best to answer all of your developed countries in China's Sixth Five-Year Plan and 7.6 questions. per-capita share of the GNP by percent during the Seventh Five- Towards the end of 1978 and the mid-21st century, say, the Year Plan. Therefore, in the next in early 1979, our country saw 2030s or 2050s, and basically ten years, a 6 percent growth the convocation of the Third achieving modernization. By of our economy is a moderate Plenary Session of the 11th then, the people will lead a fairly achievement and is certain to be Chinese Communist Party Cen• affluent life. The Seventh Plen• achieved given our continued ef• tral Committee, an event of great ary Session of the 13th CPC Cen• forts. historic importance. Thereafter, tral Committee, convened not But there are two factors in accordance with the proposal long ago, confirmed once again which have impressed upon us made by Comrade Deng Xiaop• the correctness of this strategic that the fulfillment of this goal ing, Ihe CPC' Ccninil Coniniiucc policy and its conformity with will not be easy. First, compared set forth the strategy for China's the Chinese situation. with the 1980s, the cardinal fi• modernization construction, a The first-stage goal has been gures of our economy in the strategy to be carried out in three met. In the next ten years begin• 1990s are much larger. Calculat-

12 BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7, 1991 CHINA

State Council spokesman Yuan Mu being interviewed by Salisbury. XINHUA ed in accordance with prices of Readjustment of and constantly improve the eco• the same year, the GNP in 1980 Economic Structure nomic quality, thus meeting the was 447 billion yuan and shot up need for step-by-step moderniza• to 1,740 billion yuan in 1990. S: What do you mean by the tion. Given this situation, in the next readjustment of economic struc• S: Will you please describe this ten years, every increase of 1 per• ture? in detail? centage point entails much grea• Y: Optimizing the economic Y: Take the proportionate rela• ter material quantity. This will structure refers to improving the tionship between light and heavy bring more difficulties. Second, makeup of the national economy industries for example. For some our economic structure at pre• and the various proportionate re• time in the past, we imitated the sent is not rational enough and lationships, such as those which Soviet Union's over-emphasis on our economic results are not exist between industry and agri• heavy industry with the resuU high. The focus of our future culture, between the heavy and that heavy industry and its com• economic work should, there• light industries, between various panion services developed so fast fore, be on efforts to optimize the industrial trades, among the pri• that the public faced shortages in economic structure and improve mary, secondary and tertiary in• daily necessities. Later, we grad• economic results. It should not dustries and between accumula• ually readjusted the proportion• be on the rate of growth. In other tion and consumption. Only by ate relationship between light words, we will have to achieve readjusting these setups and pro• and heavy industries. Now, an appropriate economic growth portionate relationships to a fair• heavy industry occupies 51 per• rate under the prerequisite of op• ly rational degree and gradually cent and light industry 49 per• timizing the economic structure moving towards modernization, cent, a more balanced relation• and improving economic results. can we maintain the sustained, ship. This is obviously a more difficult stable and co-ordinated develop• S: What was the former pro• task. ment of the national economy portion between heavy and light

BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7,1991 13 CHINA industries? are other reasons. Based on its elihood, in the 1990s. If you are Y: In the past, heavy industry past experience, China will not interested in this, I will do it. had over 60 percent and in the have major difficulties achieving Otherwise, I won't. peak year of 1960 reached 66.6 an ideal economic development S: I am very interested. I be• percent. speed. The most difficult point lieve that a well-trained labour S: For how long was this the lies in how to optimize the indus• force constitutes an important situation? trial structure and improve eco• prerequisite for good economic Y: In the 1960s and the 1970s, nomic results. results. In order to enable China the proportion of heavy industry S: With regard to the question to become one of the world's remained high. concerning the proportionate re• technologically advanced coun• S: Does this include the whole lationship between heavy and tries, the nation needs a labour of the 1960s? Was there any light industries, do you have a force which is well-trained, change during the "cultural re• goal in this regard for the end of skilled and culturally educated. I volution?" the 1990s? wonder if you have a method of Y: During the "cultural revo• Y: In the next ten years, or by calculating labour efficiency. lution," we still gave priority to the end of this century, the pro• Y: We have indexes which are the development of heavy indus• portion between heavy and light used to calculate many kinds of try. To achieve industrialization, industries will continue by and economic results, and also an in• it is necessary for underdevel• large at its present level. To satis• dex on labour productivity for oped countries to develop more fy future development and have estimating the value created by of their heavy industry and have more strength for future econo• each worker. We hope that, in a higher proportion of this indus• mic development, we will streng• the next ten years, labour prod• try in the early stage. However, if then construction of basic indus• uctivity for society will increase this lasts too long, there will be a tries and infrastructure facili• 3.5 percent each year, 4 percent disproportion between heavy and ties, continue to actively develop for the state-owned enterprises, light industries, resulting in a energy, communications and raw a rate slightly lower than the long period of shortages of indus• material industries, and, at the growth of GNP. These two kinds trial consumer goods, a situation same timei strive to regroup and of growth are, by and large, mu• which hampers the co-ordinated renovate the processing industry tually acceptable. Different sec• development of the national so as to update their technical tors of the national economy economy as a whole. and managerial level. Let me tell have different demands on eco• S: I believe there are two fac• you, Mr Salisbury, a little about nomic growth. Since there is dif• tors behind the economic prob• our planned growth of industrial ference between industry and lems in the Soviet Union. One is and agricultural products, prod• agriculture, we do not demand historical, namely the traditional ucts which are vital to the na• they have the same growth importance given to heavy indus• tional economy and people's liv- rate. The index for agricultural try in history and the Expansion of the Yaoxian Cement Plant, a key state project for the Seventh Five-Year Plan other is the collapse period. of the Soviet indus• ZHANG ;/£f£NG trial structure as a whole. As you know, the Soviets come to China by train and plane to purchase consumer goods. From this, one sees that the industrial structure of the So• viet Union has col• lapsed. Y: What I men• tioned just now is just one factor contribut• ing to the imbalance between heavy and light industries. There

14 BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7, 1991 growth is largely between 3 per• cent and 4 percent, that of indus• try around 7 percent, and that for the tertiary industry around 9 percent. To be specific, let me tell you the planned growth in output of several important in• dustrial and agricultural prod• ucts in the next ten years: Grain —435 billion kg in 1990 and 500 billion kg in 2000; cotton—85 million dan (each dan equals 50 kg) in 1990 and 100 million dan in 2000; coal—1.09 billion tons in 1990 and 1.4 billion tons in 2000; steel—65.8 million tons in 1990 and 80 million tons in 2000; and petroleum—138 million tons in 1990, 148 million tons in 1995 and more in 2000. At present, the output of China's coal and grain is the highest in the world. S: What proportion does the output of the Daqing and Shen- gli oilfields make up of the na• tional total? Y: The annual output of the Daqing Oilfield is 55.62 million tons, or 40 percent of the na• ZHENG YONGjl tional oil production; that of the A key project for the Seventh Five-Year Plan period, the high-voltage laboratory of Shengli Oilfield is 33.5 million the Shenyang High-Voltage Switchgear Plant is able to carry out various insulation tons, accounting for 26 percent experiments for high-voltage equipment having a capacity of 500,000V and more. of the national total. In the next ten years, we will strive to main• kwh. The figure will increase to is nuclear power, although this tain a stable output at the two 1,100 kwh in 2000. The annual will not be extensive. major oilfields. But our future output of chemical fertilizers development of the oil industry was 90 million tons in 1990 and lies mainly in the development will be 120 million tons in 2000. Exploiting Hong Kong's of the oilfields in west China and S: Does the development of Economic Advantages offshore oilfields. the power industry include the S: In formulating policies for S: In 1987, when I went to development of nuclear power future development, do you take visit Daqing, I had a good talk stations? into consideration the role of with people there. They told me Y: The development of pow• Hong Kong after 1997? Will that they planned to raise their er industry includes the devel• Hong Kong be of help to your annual production to 50 million opment in three areas: One economy? Have you taken into tons in the 1990s. It seems to me is hydroelectric power. As the consideration Hong Kong invest• that their goal is a reasonable country is rich in water re• ment in inland industry as you one. sources, China will give priority formulate economic plans? Do Y: Daqing has adopted some to exploiting this resources in or• you plan to absorb Hong Kong new technology to maintain a der to generate electricity at low investment for inland industry, high and stable yield. This, how• cost. Second is thermal power. especially light industry? Now, ever, has led to higher produc• Major efforts will be made to how much investment have you tion cost. develop the coal-pit power sta• attracted from Hong Kong? S: You have done a lot in this tions, that is, those power sta• Y: There exist many economic regard. tions located close to coal mines. ties between Hong Kong and the Y: In 1990, our electricity ge• This is aimed to avoid the long• hinterland. Hong Kong relies on nerating capacity was 615 billion distance transport of coal. Third the hinterland and the hinter-

BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7, 1991 15 CHINA land uses Hong Kong as its win• with its developing national foreign-funded enterprises 3.4 dow and base for developing for• economy. It will attract more percent. So the public ownership eign trade and economic and foreign investments and import still occupies a dominant posi• technological exchange with the more advanced foreign technol• tion. Other economic elements outside world. I don't have on ogy and equipment. Last year, account for a small proportion hand the detailed figures on China established 4.87 times but, in my opinion, can be furth• Hong Kong's investment in the more Sino-foreign joint ventures, er developed. hinterland. I do know, however, co-operative and solely foreign- S: Do you think this situa• that Hong Kong investment in owned enterprises than in 1986. tion will remain unchanged «n- the hinterland occupies a large The value of contracted. foreign til 2000? proportion of the foreign invest• investment rose by 131.6 percent Y: It is difficult to tell you ment introduced to date. and that of actual foreign invest• what the exact situation will be S: Hong Kong boasts very so• ment by 96.6 percent. Estimates like at that time, but what seems phisticated technology in all show that in the coming decade, certain is that the state and col• fields. What influence will Hong China will experience a big in• lective ownership will still have Kong's return to the motherland crease in this regard. As Presi• dominance. On this premise, exert on the mainland? After the dent Yang Shangkun said when the proportion of individually return of Hong Kong with its he met with you, China's open owned, private, Sino-foreign well-developed light industry, do policy will remain unchanged. joint ventures, co-operative and you plan to raise the proportion S: I'm not so good in math• solely foreign-owned enterprises of light industry? ematics and get no impression will be a little higher than today. Y: Hong Kong is still in the from what you just said about S: Can you estimate the pro• transitional period and will not 4.87-fold increase. Do you know portion of the foreign-funded en• be returned until 1997. After its the exact figures for 1986? terprises in 2000? Will it be return in 1997, we will strive to Y: In 1986 China had 1,492 somewhere between 10-12 per• maintain Hong Kong's existing Sino-foreign joint ventures, co• cent? social system. In particular, we operative and solely foreign- Y: No, I'm sorry, I can't make will strive to maintain its econo• owned enterprises. any correct estimate now. Your mic prosperity and development S: So China's contracted for• estimate may be correct. I think so that it can hold on to its eign investment increased by the figure will not be higher than unique position. No steps will 131.6 percent and the imple• yours and may be a little less. be taken to bring Hong Kong's mented foreign capital went up For quite some time in the past, economy into the framework of by 96.6 percent. Can you explain we believed that the purer the the mainland's economic devel• this in detail? ownership structure, the better it opment. We will continue to cash Y: The contracted foreign in• would be, and the bigger in size in on Hong Kong to expand for• vestment totalled US$6.37 bil• and of a more developed socialist eign trade, attract foreign capital lion in 1990 with just US$3,175 nature, the better. We limited and introduce advanced technol• billion used, compared with the development of non-public ogy. We will continue to energet• US$2.75 billion and US$1,615 ownership and even wanted to ically support Hong Kong by giv• billion respectively in 1986. eliminate it, not to say introduc• ing full scope to its advantages. S: Now I understand. ing foreign investment. As a re• S: This is what I want to hear Y: Maybe you are interested in sult, economic vitality was sti• from you. the proportion of the industri• fled and development slowed al output value of the foreign- down. Today, we have drawn les• funded enterprises and indivi• sons from this and, while persist• Public Ownership dually owned and private busi• ing in the development of eco• Dominant ness to the nation's total, in other nomic sectors with public own• Y: China also reported a rapid words, the structure of China's ership, allow and encourage the development in its foreign trade industrial ownerships. Let me appropriate development of in• in the last decade as the total tell you something about it. At dividual, private and foreign- volume of imports and exports present, of the nation's total in• funded enterprises. This has rose to US$115 billion in 1990 dustrial output value, that of the helped enliven China's economy. from US$38.1 billion in 1980, a state enterprises accounts for We will carry out this policy for three-fold increase. In the next 56.1 percent, the collective enter• a long period of time to come. decade from 1991 to 2000, China prises 35.7 percent, the indivi• S: What was the proportionate will continue to expand its for• dually owned and private enter• makeup of the state and collec• eign trade to roughly keep pace prises 4.7 percent and the tive enterprises when the "cultur-

16 BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7, I99I CHINA tailed plan. S: With regard to the plan for future development, there should not only be a plan for the last ten years of this century but also a plan for the first ten years of the next century. V: When we en• tered the 1990s, we drew a plan for the economic and social development in the last ten years of this century and clearly defined the targets, Ll YOKGHO\C principles, policies Four deep-water berths at Yingkou's Bayuquan Harbour area recently passed state evaluation. and measures for al revolution" ended? China would reach the level of their implementation. We also Y: By that time, the state and the moderately developed coun• drew up the Eighth Five-Year collective enterprises accounted tries in the mid-21st century. Plan for the implementation of for more than 99 percent. Except Y: Yes. I have already ex• the ten-year programme in the for an extremely small handful plained that China will develop first five years of the last decade. of individual pedlars, indivi• its ecpnomy and society in three I don't think it will be too late to dual and private economies and stages. By the end of this century make a ten-year plan and a five- foreign-funded enterprises were when China reaches its targets year plan for the next century almost non-existent. for the second strategic step, our according to the concrete con• The World Bank issued statis• country will enter into the third ditions when wc near the year tics on China's comprehensive and higher development stage. 2000. At present, we are not so economic strength. Although I That means that in the mid-21st clear about the situation in the think the data are somewhat century, or in the 2030s or 2050s, next century. If we are hurried higher than reality, I'll give you the average per-capita GNP will into making a plan and defining some figures for your reference. reach US$4,000, the level of the targets, we may have difficulty The World Bank estimates that moderately developed countries. in meeting them. in terms of population, natural Modernization will be basically resources, industry, agriculture, realized. This was first proposed science and technology, educa• by Comrade Deng Xiaoping and Educational tion, national defence and poten• was recognized as feasible by the Deveiopment tials, China ranked 13th in 1949, Party Central Committee after S: China has abundant labour ninth in 1980 and sixth today. It repeated discussions. From 1980 force. What are your plans to also estimates that after China to 2000, China's GNP will quad• increase productivity and im• reaUzes its ten-year development ruple. Estimates show that in the prove work efficiency? programme targets it will rank next century, although the cardi• Y: This is an important prob• fifth in the world. This estimate nal figures of our economy will lem worthy of conscientious con• may not be very accurate, but much bigger, it would be possible sideration for the development you can see the gap in economic for China's GNP to quadruple of our economy and society. In and technological fields between again in three or five decades, the 1980s, after the Third Plen• China and the rest of the world with the average per-capita GNP ary Session of the 11th Party has narrowed, not widened, after reaching US$4,000. However, as Central Committee, we emphas• 41 years of construction since the estimates for the next centu• ized the development of science, liberation and especially in the ry involve numerous internation• technology and education. Our last decade. al and domestic factors which we efforts in that decade promoted S: What about after 2000? Mr now can hardly predict, we only the popularization of primary Deng Xiaoping once said that have tentative ideas, not a de• school education in 70 percent of

BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7, 1991 17 CHINA the counties throughout the country and junior middle school education in most cities. At present there are 42.5 million middle school students and 120 million primary school pupils. The enrollment of the insti• tutions of higher learning is 2.08 million while the scientific and technological contingent is more than 10 million. In the early post-liberation days, 80 percent of China's population was illi• terate. Today the figure has dropped to 15.9 percent. Howev• er, science, technology and ed• ucation are still lagging behind economic and social develop• XiONG RUQING ment. More efforts are needed in Equipment for processing 200,000 tons of synthetic ammonia recently began oper• this field. ation at the Sichuan General Chemical Plant. S: Can you tell me about the increase in financial allocation fully solved. If the quality of la• Y: National economic and so• for education between 1980-90? bouring people is not improved, cial development cannot be di• What will be the increase in 2000 China will find it difficult to de-. vorced from education, science and in the 21st century? velop its economy and society. and technology. The absolute Y: China put aside 44.35 bil• Of this, there is no doubt. China, amount of funds earrharked for lion yuan for education in 1988, however, has yet another prob• science, technology and educa• compared with 14.55 billion lem. First of all we have to en• tion may be less than that for yuan in 1980, an average in• sure food and clothing for 1.1 industry and agriculture but crease of 14.9 percent a year. In billion people. If we fail in this their proportion will increase the 1989-90 period there was an regard, everything else is out of gradually. We share the same about-the-same rate of growth. the question. China's economic view as you. According to the ten-year plan and social development in the S: I think the investment in for this century, educational ex• next ten years will therefore fo• this field will never be too much. penditures will increase at a rate cus on the following three fields: China has many students and higher than that of the GNP. First, agriculture. Agriculture is scientists being trained abroad. Certainly, next century will see a the nation's foundation. Without Quite a lot of them are in the bigger increase in order to keep its steady progress, there will be United States. They are all very pace with economic and social no stable development in Chi• brilliant and have won almost development. Today, however, I na's economy and society. Se• all the scholarships. Why doesn't am unable to tell you the exact cond, basic industries and infras• China spend much more money figures. tructures. Without progress in and train them at home? If this S: That's all right. Of course, if this field, any economic and so• isn't done, I think it is a big you want to take a lead in tech• cial development will have no mistake. nology, you have to put more strong support. Lastly, science, Y: Before the ten-year plan money in education. If you de• technology and education. Their and the Eighth Five-Year Plan velop education at a slower speed development calls for more ef• were drawn up, China made a than economic growth, your eco• forts and more financial input. decision to train senior scientists nomic development will slow S: I'm very glad you have giv• and technicians and other talent• down. Each time I came to en education top priority be• ed people mainly at home. But it China, I found this problem cause only by developing educa• needs great efforts. that should have been solved re• tion can other targets be realized. S: You can do it if you consi• mained unsettled. If science, technology and educa• der it important to your plans. Y: I agree with you. Exactly tion were to occupy less emphas• Y: We already have a plan to speaking, the problem which is and not to be developed, you train senior specialists through China should have solved is would be wise over petty matters reliance on our own efforts. But being tackled but has not been but stupid over important ones. the laboratory equipment and

18 BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7, 1991 CHMA methods in some new, high and Y: We now have more than method of overall social arrange• sophisticated technological fields 1,000 enterprise groups, some ment. In the past, we failed to are not good enough and they tightly and some loosely organ• give full attention to the develop• limit the training of talented peo• ized. ment of social security. So, yes, ple in these fields. To speed up S: Did all the enterprises of it is quite backward and we are modernization of the country the more than 1,000 groups per• now investing more funds in so• and to further open the country form well before they were cial insurance. to the outside world, we will con• merged? S: This is in full swing or has tinue to send a certain number of Y: Not all. Some good enter• just begun? people to be trained in the devel• prises merged together and have Y: Many cities have begun in• oped Countries according to the since performed much better, troducing this method. needs of the state. This is still our and some good enterprises S: Will China have a modern state policy. merged with some poor enter• social security system by the year S: This is true. But if you are prises. We encourage enterprises 2000? willing to spend money, you can of all kinds to form horizontal Y: I am not sure whether invite foreign scientists to teach alliances and establish enterprise China will have a modern social in China. I see China spending groups so long as they conform security system by then. But with great sums of money building with the principle of optimizing the growth of the economy and hotels in the last few years in• resources and productive ele• the deepening of the reform, it is stead of investing in education. ments and proper distribution of likely that the system will have Y: I appreciate your frankness productive forces. At the same improved by the year 2000. We in telling us our problem. I agree time, we are trying to establish will make efforts to gradually that China has built too many and perfect the social security perfect it. luxury hotels. But we have decid• system so as to reduce obsta• S: Let's siy^pose that we are ed to strictly limit and forbid the cles to the close-down, suspen• now in 2025. Then what will the construction of hotels and res• sion, amalgamation and switch• situation be like? taurants for quite a long time to ing of production to other prod• Y: I'm spokesman for the gov• come except those needed in a ucts, efforts made to enhance ernment so it is improper for me few tourist centres and so as to economic results. to make any ill-founded fore• meet the need of growing inter• S: China has a backward social casts. But, I think, by that time, national tourism. security system. Do you have with the growth of our country's any plan for establishing a new economy and social progress, it is social security system? certain to be much better. Social Security System Y: Whether it is backward or S: Will this social security sys• S: Has China any laws regard• not, we need to make a concrete tem cover the retired, injured ing the bankruptcy of the town• analysis of it. An overwhelming and disabled? ship and state enterprises? majority of Chinese workers and Y: Yes, it will cover retire• Y: China has already promul• staff members are well treated in ment, in-house lay-off, work ac• gated a bankruptcy law but the their retirement, during in-house cidents and medical care. system on bankruptcy is far from lay-off, work injuries, and for perfect. The bankruptcy of many medical care. So for most enterprises will increase unem• Chinese workers and staff mi^- Economic Development ployment and create social un• bers, they have guarantees in S: China's economy seems to rest. We hope enterprises will these fields. The main problem be less influenced by the world keep going. We encourage enter• in this respect is the irrational economy than perhaps other prises to merge into groups in mechanism. In the past, our se• countries, as in the 1930s when order to improve operation of curity system for workers and the world economy was hit by those in a bad shape. staff members was only applic• a recession. However, should S: How many enterprises have able within the enterprises. As China suffer such an attack, are gone bankrupt? To my know• a result, in some old enterprises there any protective measures? If ledge, there are only five or six. the number of the retired which such factors as the supply of raw Y: I don't know the exact fi• they must care for account for materials and the market will ex• gure. In general, they are not one-third, 50 percent, or even ert impact on China's economy, many, but they may be more more of the total job payroll. what will China do? than five or six. These enterprises cannot afford Y: We have considered these S: How many enterprises have such a big burden. We are now problems. We considered that been merged? reforming this by introducing a the unfair economic competition

BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7, 1991 19 CHINA in the world in the 1990s would Y: By construction industry, I S: Will you introduce a meth• be more acute than in the 1980s. mean the construction of such od of installment payments? We have also considered the pos• key projects as factories, power Y: In the past, the state built sibility of a world economic re• stations, railways, harbours and houses for distribution to work• cession when we were formu• airports as well as housing. In the ers and staff members as a wel• lating our ten-year economic coming ten years, in order to im• fare benefit. In the future, we development programme. But we prove the standard of living, we will see houses as a kind of com• have advantages to fall back on. will spend much more of our re• modity to be circulated in socie• China has a vast territory and sources on improving the living ty and gradually commercialize rich resources. We also have dif• conditions of both urban and them. To this end, an installment ficulties. We run short of funds rural dwellers, especially urban payment is feasible. and our technical standing is workers and staff members. low. The international economic S: I'm going to ask you some situation in the future will be questions about housing. In Ji- The Role of the PLA hard for us in some aspects. angxi I saw spacious tile-roofed S: Another question is whether However, such a vast market like houses built by the farmers the role of the People's Libera• China is attractive to the interna• themselves. In Beijing, there are tion Army (PLA) will change in tional community. "When it is also many of the same kind of the future. Unlike other foreig• dark in the east, it is bright in the houses. But I noticed that many ners, I think the PLA plays the west." That is, there is always a houses in the countryside are role not only in national defence way out. China and many coun• quite primitive. China's houses but also in social construction. tries and regions in the world can are not of top quality and so I am Y: Your observation is corect. supplement each other's needs glad to hear that you want to The PLA's role will not change economically. I think China's build more houses for workers in the future. The normal order economic development will al• and staff members. of our society is maintained by ways have a lot of room to man• Y: In the coming ten years, we the people's police. The PLA, oeuvre. will try hard to improve liv• apart from fulfilling the task of S: Yes, I think so as well. ing conditions. Chinese farm• defending the country, the state's Y: We will continue to carry ers build houses on their own. In security and social stability, also on the policy of opening to the the past, urban houses were put takes part in socialist construc• outside world and do our best to under the care of the state, and tion, and participates in the con• carve up a bigger share of the the rent was low. In the future, struction of such key projects international market. We have farmers will still build houses as railways, highways and pow• opportunities. Should a serious themselves but the urban hous• er stations. When such natural recession occur in the world ing system will have to be re• calamities as fire, flooding and economy, no doubt, it would ex• formed by properly marking up earthquake occur, the PLA is a ert an impact on the develop• the rents or selling some houses major force to combat these ca• ment of China's economy, but to workers and staff members, lamities. Wherever the PLA not as much as it does those with the money coming from the troops are stationed, they culti• countries heavily dependent on work units or partially from the vate close relations with the local foreign trade. We can stand up to workers and staff members. To people and, together with lo• it. I think no matter how sluggish p^t it in a more detailed way, I'll cal governments, build social• the world economy is, China's g^'e you an example. The rent ism, give local people an edu• economy will not fluctuate too usually accounts for only 2 to cation in ideals and ethics and much, since it is chiefly based on 3 percent of an average ur• build a strong civilization. The the domestic market. ban worker's salary. I am a Red Army you mentioned in S: What sectors of China's ministerial-level cadre and have your book Long March: The Un• economy develop faster than its a better and more spacious house told Story is the predecessor of average growth rate? What are and so the rent is higher. Even our present PLA. The PLA often the major economic sectors? so, it accounts for only 7 to 8 sends its officers and men to lo• Y: I think the electronics, percent of my salary. The rent calities to give local people a petro-chemical, auto, and con• collected by the state is not even traditional education. struction industries will see a enough for maintenance. If this S: I am familiar with what you rapid growth in the next ten housing system is not reformed, have said. I've talked with PLA years. it will be difficult to speed up the soldiers and I know what the S: What do you mean by the construction of houses for urban PLA is now doing. Can you pred• construction industry? workers. ict whether the PLA's role in so-

20 BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7,1991 CHINA ciety will be strengthened in the a country of national unity. To• future? China will be like in 2000? day, national contradictions are Y: The PLA is the mainstay of quite acute in some countries our country's political power and Building Socialism With and regions in the world. We will a great wall of steel defending Chinese Characteristics try everything in our power to the country and its people. To• Y: This is a wide open ques• prevent this in China. We will gether with the Chinese people, tion. By the year 2000 and be• not allow the phenomenon of na• the PLA takes part in socialist yond, the basic social system of tional splits to emerge in China. construction. The PLA will al• China as it is today will remain In foreign relations, we will ad• ways remain a people's army un• unchanged. This social system is here to the Five Principles of der the leadership of the Chinese neither of a traditional pattern Peaceful Coexistence, develop Communist Party. It will always nor, as some have said, of a friendly relations with every be the people's own army and "Stalinistic pattern," but social• country in the world, oppose he- cement blood-and-flesh ties with ism with Chinese characteristics. gemonism and be willing to esta• the people. It will be economically more vi• blish a new international polit• S: Unlike others, I see the gorous, politically more demo• ical and economic order and PLA's role differently. The PLA, cratic, ethically better, and, in safeguard world peace and devel• apart from the duty of defending terms of human relations, will opment together with all coun• the country, takes part in social be more understanding, respect• tries in the world on the basis construction. This makes it dif• ful and helpful. The standard of of peaceful coexistence, equality ferent from armies of other living will be much improved. At and mutual benefit. We hope countries, which defend their the same time, we will strive to that before the end of this centu• countries in wartime and con• prevent the widening of the gap ry or early next century we will duct military training during between the rich and the poor solve the issue of Taiwan based peace time. Do you think the and the polarization between on the principle of "one coun• PLA will play a bigger role after them. We will maintain public try, two systems," thus realizing 2000? ownership of the means of prod• peaceful reunification of the Y: I think your view about the uction in a dominant position country. PLA is correct and in conformity and allow other ownerships to S: Mr Deng Xiaoping envis• with China's reality. But I have co-exist. In terms of mechanism aged separation of the Party one word to add. Our army also of economic operation, we will from the government. Has there attaches importance to military carry out a planned economy been any progress in this respect? drills so as to beef up its capacity while giving play to the regulato• I don't think you have made any for national defence. The tradi• ry role of the market in progress now, but will there be tion that "localities and people order to have better integration any progress after the year 2000? support the army and give pre• of planned economy and market Y: Separating the functions of ferential treatment to families regulation. As for ideology, we the Party from those of the gov• of revolutionary army men and will, under the guidance of ernment is an important prin• martyrs and the army supports Marxism, carry forward the na• ciple put forward by Comrade the government and cherishes tional culture, and absorb the Deng Xiaoping for the reform of the people" highlights the strong best part of world culture, in• China's political system. In re• relationship between the Chinese cluding advanced technology, cent years, we have carried out people and the army. advanced experiences and all of this principle during the reform S: I understand this situation. the other benefits presented and made progress. Here, I If it were not the case, the PLA's by capitalist countries, making would like to give you a re• special role in society would not them serve the consoUdation and cent example. The Party Central exist. Let me ask you a question development of socialism. Committee's Proposals for Ten- regarding China in the year China is a unified multi• Year Development Programme 2000. During the 1978-79 period, national country. We stand for for National Economic and So• when Mr Deng Xiaoping was equality and mutual help, unity cial Development and the Eighth reinstated in his position, he once and co-operation, and common Five-Year Plan passed at the envisaged to shake China off the prosperity among various nation• Seventh Plenary Session of the "cultural revolution." By 2000, alities. We are opposed to ma• 13th Central Committee of the Deng Xiaoping will probably jority nationalities discriminat• Chinese Communist Party held have died. He once said he want• ing against minority nationalities at the end of last year put for• ed to live to see the achievements and against activities aimed at ward proposals for targets of de• of 2000. What do you imagine splitting the country. We are for velopment and major policies

BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7, 1991 21 CHINA and principles in the coming ten should better safeguard and not probably because of the position years. They are only proposals, resist the Party's leadership. This the United States holds in the not orders imposed on the gov• principle conforms with the his• world today. If we all adhere to ernment and people. Our govern• torical tradition of our country the same principle of leaving ment, or the State Council, will and its reality. In this practice, the government and people of conscientiously consider these we do not require that others a country alone to handle their proposals, formulate the detailed maintain the same view ours. own internal affairs, the re• Ten-Year Programme and the But one will be unable to see the lations between countries will be Eighth Five-Year Plan for sub• separation of the Party and gov• normal and the world will be all mission to the National People's ernment at present or in the fu• the more peaceful. Congress to be held in March of ture, if he judges whether China The relationship between this year for examination. After has realized the separation of the China and the Soviet Union was they are approved by the con• Party and government by such once quite good, but there were gress, efforts will be made to or• criterion as the government re• also ups and downs. Gorbachev's ganize the entire Chinese public fusing or resisting the Party's China visit in 1989 normalized to put them into practice. I think leadership. We will not introduce the relations between the two this practice itself embodies the the Western system of two par• principle of separating the func• ties or more wielding the power countries, and there has been a tions of the Party from those in turn. In China, we have eight lot of progress and co-operation of the government. Our govern• democratic parties. They support in many fields since then. Now ment accepts the political leader• the leadership of the Communist dramatic changes are taking ship and principled leadership of Party and they participate in the place in the Soviet Union. Al• the Communist Party, while the administration of the govern• though we have a different opi• Party refrains from interfering ment under the leadership of the nion of events, we have agreed with the everyday work of the Communist Party. The relations not to launch an open debate government. This is what we say between these democratic parties on the issues involved. We will, separating the functions of the and the Communist Party are however, continue to maintain Party from those of the govern• not those of a ruling and oppos• friendly relations with the Soviet ment. ition party, but relations of mu• .Union on the basis of the Five S: As far as the separation of tual co-operation and mutual Principles of Peaceful Coex• the Party and government is con• help like people in the same boat. istence. I want to thank you very cerned, the State Council should S: Thank you for your patient much for listening to me with have the right to accept or re• answers to my questions. This is such patience. fuse the Party's proposals. Now, the most unforgettable interview S: I agree with you on the issue I think the State Council has I have had and I will remember of Sino-US and Sino-Soviet rela• never refused the Party's propos• it forever. tions. Last year, I visited the So• als so I don't see any progress in Y: I am glad to have the oppor• viet Union and saw the situation separating the Party and govern• tunity to answer your questions. deteriorating. I am very con• ment. You have not separated In the capacity of an ordinary cerned that the situation will be• the Party and government. Chinese citizen, I would like to come even worse. The relations Y: Obviously, my view is not say a few words about the rela• between China and the United the same as yours. The Chinese tions between China and the Un• States are normal and healthy. I Communist Party is the only rul• ited States and the relations be• believed this even before China ing Party in China. We persist in tween China and the Soviet threw its door open and accepted strengthening the leadership of Union. The Chinese people are my visit. In regard to the impe- the Communist Party over the very much willing to develop tuousness of the American peo• state, as stipulated in our Consti• friendly relations with the Unit• ple, I believe our nation is very ed States. I visited the United tution. In China, the government young and lacks discipline; it is will not and is not allowed to States three times. I respect the like a spoiled child. China, on the resist the Party. Comrade Deng American people and especially other hand, is a nation with a Xiaoping's aim in speaking of the like their straightforwardness long history and I hope you are separation of the functions of the and honesty. But, I also have an tolerant towards us. Party from those of the govern• impression that many American ment is to enable the Party to people are impetuous and more Y: I hope people of the two better play its leading role in• often than not will impose on countries will continue to streng• stead of weakening the Party's others their criterion of right and then their exchanges and deepen leading role. Therefore, we wrong. I understand that it is their mutual understanding. •

22 BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7,1991 CHINA

Democrats Active in Political Forum

by Our staff Reporter Wu Naitao

China's practice of a systenn of multi-party co-operation under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party is realized through both democratic party members and non-party members holding leading posts in the government. This article introduces several members of democratic parties who hold important posts in the government and judicial organs.—Ed.

an Beilei, 49, vice-minister 1987, it has played an important land raised such a question to of the light industry, is an role in fighting against embezzle• Feng Tiyun, he answered, laugh• P alternate member of the ment and corruption at all levels ing, "You can see for yourself. Central Committee of the Jiu of the government. By exposing Am I a flower vase used for de• San Society, one of China's eight some important cases, the Minis• coration? Do I look as the kind democratic parties, and also the try of Supervision is now enjoy• of people who feel content with first woman vice-minister of Tai• ing an increasingly good reputa• doing nothing?" wan's Gaoshan nationality. Pan, tion in China's society. Some of Since Feng assumed his office an engineer who attained many the key cases were handled by in the Ministry of Supervision in achievements in her research of Feng Tiyun, vice-minister of su• February 1988, he has been in wine-making and other branches pervision and vice-chairman of charge of three departments in• of the light industry, once served the Central Committee of the volving foreign affairs, foreign as deputy governor of Shaanxi China Democratic National Con• trade, finance, banking, rail• Province. Currently, the coun• struction Association. Having ways, transport and communica• try has 18 non-Communist Party worked with Feng for more than tions, construction and agricul• members like Pan holding lead• two years. Minister Wei Jianxing ture and exercised supervisory ing posts in ministries and com• recalled that Feng was in charge powers in ten provinces and au• missions under the State Council of the most problem-plagued de• tonomous regions in south and and in provincial people's gov• partments and, therefore, southwest China. In addition, ernments and judicial organs. shouldered very heavy tasks. Feng is always responding to These non-Communist Party Feng impressed Wei by his bold• public letters, visits and reports. leaders respectively come from ness, sense of responsibility and In March 1990, former rail• the Revolutionary Committee of daring in handling problems. way minister Luo Yunguang was the Kuomintang, the China De• In a simple office of the Min• removed from his post by the mocratic League, the China De• istry of Supervision located in State Council because he serious• mocratic National Construction the north suburbs of Beijing, this ly neglected his duty and accept• Association and the Jiu San So• reporter interviewed Feng, once ed bribes. Because Luo was the ciety, or are independents. Most a leading figure of the industrial first official at the ministerial of them are capable experts and and commercial circles and now level to be openly prosecuted, the scholars in one field or other a high-ranking government su• case became the front-page news. with political integrity and a pervisory official. Although it is Feng was involved in the entire depth of knowledge. All have not news that non-Communist process, from first receiving the made remarkable achievements Party members hold leading gov• report against Luo to placing the in their posts. ernment posts, some people still case on file for investigation and doubt their validity, believing during the the ensuing prosecu• they are a kind of "decoration" tion, including interviews with Fighting Corruption and have no powers. When some Luo Yunguang. When dealing Since the re-establishment of people who recently carne from with the cases, no matter what the Ministry of Supervision in Taiwan on a visit to the main• level of officials, either at the

BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7,1991 23 CHINA no problems, facts must vision. Sometimes, he also takes be clarified. There part in the leading work of the should be no "perhaps" China Democratic National Con• in any case. struction Association and the In the Ministry of Su• CPPCC. When he was inter• pervision, Feng is very viewed, he was preparing for a strict with the staff, discussion with the members of many of whom are di• his party over the weekend re• rectors and department garding suggestions to be made leaders and members of at a democratic consultative con• the Chinese Communist ference, held by the CPC Cen• Party. He has great res• tral Committee, on the proposals pect for and trust in which were later adopted by the them and often ex• Seventh Plenary Session of the changes views with 13 th CPC Central Committee on them. He listens to their behalf of the China Democratic opinions and invites National Construction Associa• them to make sugges• tion. tions. Once a decision "My character," Feng said, is made, though, he de• "led me to my supervisory mands that members work." The vice-minister is also a carry it out to the letter senior economist and has been conscientiously. Recent• engaged in economic work for ly, there was a case many years. He once served as a involving a department factory director and manager of under the State Council. a private bank. When he worked Feng asked his staff to on probation in a private bank of take part in the en• Shanghai as a teenager, he was XU XIANGJUN well known among his colleagues Pan Beilei (second left) inspects production at tire investigatory pro• Huayi Cloisonne Factory. cess. However, the per• for his speaking out against rack• sons in charge of the eteers. Now, in a different time provincial and ministerial level case did not do as Feng instruct• and post, he continues his ar• or ordinary staff members, Feng ed and made a conclusion of the duous battle against all evil upheld a reliance on facts and case based on the responsible de• doings. evidence. He noted that the cases partment's report. When the in• he dealt with were related to the vestigatory materials were sub• Making Use of Talent political life of the persons con• mitted to Feng, he discovered the In the 1950s, Shen Junru, New cerned and thus needed to be problem and so asked the super• China's first president of the Su• carefully examined. visors to do the work over in a preme People's Court, and Shi As he upholds principles, he more conscientious manner. Af• Liang, minister of justice, were works in a concrete and stable terwards, relevant departments representatives of democratic way, demanding that every con• under the ministry summed up parties active in politics. Last clusion be derived from ev• their experiences and drew the September, Duanmu Zheng, a idence. He never leaves the appropriate lessons, handling the well-known expert of Interna• slightest room-for doubt nor any given case in much greater de• tional Law and member of the ambiguous problem unresolved. tail. Standing Committee of the During his examination of one At 65, Feng, healthy and full China Democratic League, was case, he found an unexplained of energy, is also a member of elected vice-president of the Su• discrepancy of 1,400 yuan. In the the Standing Committee of the preme People's Court and mem• conclusion of the report, there Chinese People's Political Con• ber of the Judicial Commission. appeared the sentence, referring sultative Conference (CPPCC), Duanmu Zheng, fluent in to the discrepancy as "perhaps it and vice-director of the China French, English and Russian, is...." In response, Feng asked for Professional Education Society. has a wide range of knowledge of the case to be reopened. He says He devotes the majority of his law, history and political science. that if problems exist, evidence time to his duties as a vice- He used to be a professor and must be given and, if there are minister in charge of super• director of the law department of

24 BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7,1991 CHINA the Zhongshan University, and Chinese Communist Party for my alley." once served as director of the the construction of the socialist Hong deems implementaiion Institute of Jurisprudence. In the legal system." He stressed that basic state policy of "developing last ten years, he not only lec• China's modernization drive des• agriculture by science and tech• tured to postgraduate students perately needed improvements in nology" his primary task. In his on the history of international the socialist legal system. He not• work to expedite scientific and law, the history of treaties and ed that "democratic parties, as technological development in the law of war, but also compiled they participate in political af• the Academy of AgriculluraJ The Dictionary of the History of fairs, must help build such a le• Science, he adopted many mea• French Revolution. He also ed• gal system." sures, such as selecting scientific ited International Law, China's In March 1989, Hong Fuzeng, research projects and encourag• self-study material for higher ed• member of the Central Commit- ing intellectuals to go to the rural ucation and presided over the study of Sino-foreign economic law for the special economic zones in Guangdong—a key state project of the Sixth Five- Year Plan. He has won high praise from his students and col• leagues, as well as from among foreign law circles. In 1985, Professor Duanmu was appointed, by the Nation• al People's Congress, a draft• ing committee member for the Basic Law of the People's Re• public of China for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Re• gion. He was also a member of the committee's political system group. Together with other mem• bers, he was charged with a study of Hong Kong's political system after 1997. Always enthusiastic and co-operative, he made use of his wide knowledge to successful• ly fulfil the task assigned. From 1980, Duanmu was elected deputy to people's con• gresses at different levels. In 1988, he was elected vice- chairman of the Standing Com• Vice-Minister Feng Tiyun (second right) discusses an important case with his mittee of Guangdong People's colleagues. Congress. As an NPC deputy, he has suggested a revision of the tee of the Jiu San Society, re• areas to help with local work, in Constitution and the drafting signed from his post of president order to make practical use of of local laws, recommendations of the Jilin Academy of Agricul• scientific research results. He which have caught the attention tural Science and came to the said that currently only 30 to 40 of the relevant departments. Ministry of Agriculture to serve percent of the scientific research His post of president of the as vice-minister in charge of the results have been applied to Supreme People's Court has scientific, technological and edu• production. In his view, there is brought home to Professor cational work. Talking about his a great potential for advance• Duanmu the importance of his new responsibility, the herbage ment in agricultural production. mission. "Since the founding of expert, who worked in the Aca• Lu Ming, 51, member of the New China in 1949," he said, demy of Agricultural Science for China Democratic National Con• "the democratic parties have decades, said, "With my past ex• struction Association, served as been working together with the perience I find the work tight up deputy governor of Gansu Prov-

BEUING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7,1991 25 CHINA ince for six years. A wheat breed• ice. ing expert, he spends more than In one instance, when Han half of his time each year in the came to Zhaoshan Township, countryside. In November 1989, Ezhou City, to inspect the educa• when he learnt that most of the tional work there, he found the wheat in Qingyang Prefecture primary school buildings very was affected by wheat rust and poor but the office building of pondery mildew, he quickly or• the township government beauti• ganized eight experts to rush to ful and new. He angrily declared the affected areas to deal with the school site closed immediate• the problem and saw to it that ly and ordered the students to the supply of farm chemicals, hold classes in the office building chemical fertilizer, funds and until the dangerous classrooms other materials was guaranteed. were renovated. The action was By May 1990, when wheat rust highly praised by the public in appeared in many areas through• Ezhou City. A group was soon out the province, the supply and established by the city govern• marketing departments had al• ment to ensure improvement in ready shipped 300 tons of farm 1/ MlNGYl school conditions. It quickly dis• chemicals from other provinces, Vice-President Duanmu Zlieng. covered 33 other schools needing thus ensuring an adequate sup• repair and supervised the pro• ply. Because the problem was cratic personage without any gress of the renovation projects. dealt with promptly, the prov• party affiliation, was elected There are nearly 20 million cu• ince's summer grain output in• deputy-governor of Hubei Prov• bic metres of rock along a sec• creased by 2 percent over the ince by the Hubei People's Con• tion of the Yangtze River pass• previous year, with the total out• gress. In May 1988, in a compe• ing through Hubei Province in put reaching over 4.2 million titive election at the provincial danger of collapsing. Despite the tons. Seventh People's Congress, he fact that the local navigation, was again elected deputy- geology, seismology and hydrolo• governor by a high margin, win• gy departments had spent many Taking Practical Steps ning strong support from depu• years to gather material and data In 1986, 54-year-old senior en• ties because of the achievements for correcting the problem, the gineer Han Nanpeng, a demo- he had made since assuming off• results of their study were not shared, resulting in the waste of State special auditor Zhang Shangjin, member of the China Democratic National time and resources. After taking Construction Association and professor of Law at the People's University of China, charge of the project, Han co• gives a lecture to students. YANC LIMING operated with each of the rele• vant departments and even took to the 700-metre-high cliffs him• self. He very quickly collected a great deal of data, on the basis of which he drafted a plan for con• trolling the rock collapsing and landslide. Professor Wang Wenyuan, Who had been teaching at the Liaoning University for more than 30 years, was elected deputy-governor of Liaoning Province by the Liaoning Peo• ple's Congress in early 1988 in his capacity as vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Jiu San Society. Wang is in charge of the educational work and has led the leading members of the prov• ince's educational commission to

BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7,1991 CHINA undertake serious investigations tutions of higher learning and icy of nine-year compulsory edu• at the grass-root units, mobilized middle and primary schools were cation was promulgated by the schools for work-study pro• renovated. National People's Congress, the grammes and encouraged a Chen Kuizun, a member of educational commission of Ji• province-wide fund raising ef• the Standing Committee of the angxi Province formulated con• fort. Several million yuan of ed• China Democratic League, has crete plans for its implementa• ucational funds are collected an• held his post for two terms since tion. Chen frankly criticized the plan as not in accordance with nually for the province, an ac• being elected deputy-governor of the province's actual conditions complishment which is well re• Jiangxi province by the prov• and that the plan's requirements ceived by people throughout the ince's sixth people's congress in were excessive which would re• educational establishment. When January 1985. He has conscien• sult in coercion, commandism he first assumed office, the prov• tiously carried out the central and deception in implementa• ince had nearly 1 million square government's line, principles and tion. He suggested an investiga• metres of dangerous school policies. His attitude, though tion and, because of his interven• buildings. After one and a half firm, is neither mechanical nor tion, the provincial educational years of efforts, all dangerous blind. commission finally revised the buildings in the province's insti• A few years ago, after the pol• plan. •

CDL Advises on Yellow River Development by Our Staff Reporter Cheng Gang This article describes how an important proposal was presented by the China Democratic League (CDL), one of China's eight democratic parties, for the country's construction. These parties actively participate in the political and social life of the state. rTT^he Yellow River, trailing vided attention of the govern• League send a group of experts to I some 5,464 kilometres ac- ment which harnessed its re• help the northwestern provinces ross north China, is the sources and greatly lessened its undertake a development plan. fifth largest river in the world. potential for destruction. Cur• At the same time, Feng Zhi- It cultivated the ancient Chinese rently, however, the Yellow Riv• jun, vice-chairman of the Demo• civilization, as brilliant a civili• er Valley area, though rich in cratic League and a soft science zation as existed in ancient natural resources, is still in a re• expert, had a conversation with Egypt, India and Babylon, and latively backward state. Li Diankui, mayor of Dongying, has won praise as "the mother At the First Session of the Sev• Shandong Province, on how best river of the Chinese nation." enth National People's Con• to develop the Yellow River However, due to a millennium of gress in April 1988, the famous Delta. ecological destruction, the Yel• Chinese sociologist Fei Xiaotong, The two talks proved to be low River is a dangerous, san• chairman of the China Demo• the prelude to the Democratic dy river which freguently over• cratic League, happened to meet League's advice to the Central flowed its banks. The dominant Jia Zhijie, governor of Gansu Committee of the Chinese Com• position of the Yellow River Val• Province in the upper reaches munist Party (CPC) and the ley in China's economy has also of the Yellow River. Naturally, State Council on developing the gradually been replaced by the they exchanged their views on Yellow River's upper reaches Yangtze River Valley and the the social and economic develop• and along the delta areas of the coastal areas. Since the founding ment of China's northwest areas lower reaches. Before their infor• of New China in 1949, the Yel• and, during their talks, Jia sug• mal discussions ended, the high• low River has received the undi- gested that the Democratic est administrators of Gansu

BEIJING REVIEW, APRrL 1-7,1991 CHINA Province, the Ningxia Hui Au• 1800s and early 1900s. It holds chemical industry and planning, tonomous Region and Qinghai snowy mountains and prairie as began a 24-day inspection tour Province (through all of which well as deserts and gobi, where under Feng's leadership. With runs the upper reaches of the herds of cattle and flocks of the support of local govern• Yellow River), formally agreed sheep graze to the accompan• ments, the team travelled to the to ask the Democratic League to iment of melodious pastoral river's upper reaches, investigat• organize the study and come up songs. Although the government ing not only the major cities but with an economic development has contributed a great amount also the countryside and pastoral plan for their areas. At the same of financial aid, material re• areas, especially Xihaigu, one of time, leaders of Shandong Prov• sources and manpower to the China's poorest areas. They in• ince consulted with Fei Xia• area since 1949 and the living spected rural enterprises as well otong and Qian Weichang, vice- standard of many nationalities, as medium and large state enter• chairman of the Democratic such as Tibetan, the Hui, Mon• prises and raw material sites un• League, on holding a symposium golian and Han, has improved der development as well as still on development strategy for the greatly, the economic level in the unexploited virgin land. In addi• Yellow River Delta. region is low compared with that tion, the team held 24 talks res• The invitations by local gov• in the east coastal areas. pectively with representatives ernments made the leaders of After accepting the task of stu• of local industrial, agricultural, the Democratic League aware dying development on the upper commercial, academic, scientif• of their role, primarily through reaches of the Yellow River from ic and technological circles and their intellectual expertise, to the Democratic League Cen• government officials. Returning provide comprehensive advice to tral Committee, Feng Zhijun to Beijing, the experts compiled the state. To this end, in May plunged himself into the work. within only one week An Analys• is of Economic Development Pol• icies in Gansu Province, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province. About 100,000 words in length, the report cov• ered such topics as natural geo- agraphical surveys, power, rail• ways, enterprises, financial sup• port for poor areas, the market situation, social development, in• tellectual mobility and the rela• tionship between nationalities. The report analysed the distri• bution of a variety of resources in the region. Energy is one re• source examined in the report and China's success in develop• ing hydroelectric power at the river's upper reaches is pointed FEI MAN out. So far, power stations at Fei Xiaotong, cliairman of the China Democratic League, leaves message for local Longyangxia, Liujiaxia, Yan- students of Yugu Autonomous County, Gansu Province. guoxia, Bapanxia and Qing- tongxia have begun operation 1988, the Democratic League He invited a group of experts and, along with 15 other power set up a "Regional Development and scholars throughout China stations under construction and Planning Committee." to Beijing to discuss the outline planning, will bring the total in• of the work with comrades of the stalled capacity to some 12 mil• Construction on the planning commissions of Gansu, lion kw. Also, with total prov• Upper Reaches Ningxia and Qinghai. On May en coal deposits of 197.8 billion 16, 1988, the investigation team, tons, the two provinces and one Most areas in the upper reach• composed of ten experts in agri• autonomous region are recog• es of the Yellow River are as culture, livestock breeding, wat• nized as China's second largest mysterious and backward as the er conservancy, electric power, "coal sea." Oil deposits in the virgin America^jvest in the late metallurgy, geology, education. area are also considerable, some

28" BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7, 1991 CHINA 430 million tons. In regard to mineral resources, the deposits of nickle, platinum, rareearth, syl- vite, magnesium salt, lithium, bromine, asbestos, gypsum and aluminium rank first in China. All these endow the area with the unusual advantage to de• velop nonferrous metal, salt- chemical, petrochemical and building material industry. Re• garding agriculture and animal husbandry, however, although the two provinces and the auton• omous region are an important pastoral region and the Hetao area (located near the top of the Great Bend of the Yellow River in the Inner Mongolian Auton• omous Region and Ningxia) is FEi WAN known as the "granary on the Fei Xiaotong speaks at tlie Regional Planning and Consulting Service Conference Great Wall," the dry weather in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province. and shortage of water has ser• iously reduced harvest, so the Multi-National Economic Devel• zone for the whole northwest problem of raising sufficient opment Zone on the Upper area. food to feed the local population Reaches of the Yellow River" The development zone en• has remained unresolved. held in Lanzhou, capital of Gan• visioned in the the Proposal cov• The report emphasizes that su Province. After the sympos• ers the 1,000-km-long river sec• some 40 out of China's 55 ium, despite the intense heat of tion between the Longyangxia Chinese minority nationalities summer, the two men undertook and the Qingtongxia and in• inhabit more than 80 percent of an investigation of the river's up• cludes two large hydro-electric the area. The harmonious rela• per reaches. On July 13, they power stations on the Yellow tionship between nationalities is, submitted, on behalf of the Cen• River's upper reaches and em• therefore, extremely important. tral Committee of the Democrat• phasizing economic activity The report points out that the ic League, the Proposal on Es• along its banks. The zone encom• key to national problems lies in tablishing a 'Multi-National passes Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia economic development. Economic Development Zone on and Inner Mongolia and covers If the state makes a reasonable the Upper Reaches of the Yellow 150,000 square kilometres with adjustment to industrial distri• River to the CPC Central Com• 10 million people, including 4.4 bution through a comprehensive mittee and the State Council. million of minority nationality, economic development zone, and From the very beginning, the some 4.84 percent of China's to• practises preferential policies in Proposal makes clear its purpose tal minority population. Given fund allocation, bank credit and and main theme: the west-east the local reosurces available and managerial power within enter• railway lines, with their freight the problems which need to be prises, the multi-national region volume the largest in China, resolved, the Proposal sets out a will become a stable source of have connected the river's upper general policy of developing the raw materials and a base of high reaches with the coastal areas. area: After establishing hydro- energy-consuming industries as Turning the region into a base electeric power stations, develop well as of meat and milk produc• for the supply of raw materials high-energy-consuming raw ma• tion. and basic processed products to terial exploitation and processing Fei Xiaotong and Qian Wei- the east area is an important step industry, thus stimulating the chang were satisfied with the for the development of the coas• development of small and work of the investigation team. tal areas. At present, conditions medium-sized enterprises, and, But they wanted a more scientif• are ripe for establishing a multi• in order to boost agricultural ic and practical proposal. In July national economic development production and turn the area 1988, Fei and Qian attended the zone in the river's upper reaches into a grain and sugar base, using "Symposium on Constructing a and making it an experimental the increased hydro-electric pow-

BEIJING REVIEW, RII.,1-7,1991 CHINA er to carry water to the desert and the arid loess plateau. The Proposal was soon sent by the State Council to the State Planning Commission. On Octo• ber 6, 1988, after the State Plan• ning Commission approved it in principle, it was sent back to Pre• mier Li Peng. He approved the plan and asked the State Plan• ning Commission to work out a more detailed version with the departments concerned. The re• ply of the commission read: De• veloping the area will be a guide for the state's development plan• ning and construction work and the principle for implementation of the governemnt's overall eco• nomic strategy. The Commission also agreed to give preferential FEI WAN consideration to the area's con• Fei Xiaotong meets with immigrants (left) in Gansu Province. struction programme, strengthen support for the area's agriculture 1990 that the CPC Central Com• been taken to change the situa• and animal husbandry and ar• mittee and the State Council give tion. Construction of China's se• range for the construction of first priority to the development cond biggest oilfield—the Shen- commodity grain and livestock of agriculture and livestock gli Oilfield—was begun and product bases while studying and breeding. The State Council res• such basic facilities as highways, drafting "the Eighth Five-Year ponded favourably to Fei's idea bridges, electric power, telecom• (1991-95) Plan of National Eco• in October and, by the end of munications, airports and ports nomic and Social Development." 1990, the state had decided that have taken initial shape. In 1983, In October 1988, the United "the Hexi (Gansu) Corridor" moreover, the State Council gave Front Work Department of the would be a new commercial permission for the city of Dongy- CPC Central Committee called grain base, receiving an annual ing to be founded on the delta. together leaders of the Demo• investment of 5 million yuan. The Yellow River Delta has a cratic League Central Commit• total area of 5,400 square kilo• tee, Gansu, Ningx'ia, Qinghai, In• Developing the Yellow metres (a figure which continues ner Mongolia, the State Planning River Delta to increase as more sand is depos• Commission, the State Science ited), more than half a hectare and Technology Commission The Yellow River Delta, the per person (nationwide, China and the State Nationalities Af• result of sand deposits left by the has 0.0086 square kilometre per fairs Commission to discuss im• river, is China's "youngest" area. person), the highest in the coas• plementation of the tentative Still in the process of creation, tal areas. Currently, only 42 per• plan. After a co-ordinating team the estuary of the Yellow River cent of land is being util• for the development of the four is making more than 2,000 hec• ized. The still undeveloped provinces and autonomous 're• tares annually through its sand 400,000-hectares of land include gions was set up, the work began deposits. 120,000 hectares of shoals (20,- in a planned manner with em• Of China's three biggest rivers, 000 hectares of which can be phasis on development of ener• the Yangtze River and the Pearl used for aquiculture) and 324,- gy resources, transportation and River deltas have been built into 000 hectares of alkaline land raw materials. well-known economic zones with (160,000 hectares of which are Fei, who had paid a good deal modern port cities like Shang• grassland). The vast land re• of attention to the construction hai and Guangzhou. The Yel• sources, together with the mild of "the Multi-National Econo• low River Delta, however, with climate and moderate rainfall, mic Development Zone on the its weak economic base, has yet are sufficient for building grain, Upper Reaches of the Yellow to be fully developed. In recent cotton, forest, fruit, animal hus• River," proposed on May 16, years, effective measures have bandry and aquatic breeding in-

30 BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7, 1991 CHINA dustries as well as founding mod• mocratic League and a well- Committee that was submitted to ern urban centres. known physicist, arrived at Don• the CPC Central Committee and By the end of 1988, the Yellow gying a month early and inspect• the State Council on December River Delta had verified oil de• ed the oilfields, saline-alkali 25, 1989. The Proposal analysiz- posits of 3.2 billion tons and na• land, the estuary and port sites. es the resources in the Yellow tural gas deposits of 22.9 billion At the symposium, Qian stimu• River Delta and points out that cubic metres. The rich oil and lated the interest of the partici• speeding up the development of the Yellow River Delta will pants by raising the question of gas resources portend a promis• bring many economic and stra• ing future for building energy whether the Baku road or the tegic benefits. The authors sug• and petrochemical industry Los Angeles road of oil and gas gest, however, the need to put bases. development should be followed. into place substitute industries The coastline of the Yellow "The Baku road" referred to the for petroleum in a timely man• River Delta stretches for 350 short-term plan that, like the ner. After receiving the Proposal kilometres. The abundant fresh• Baku Oilfield in the Soviet approved by the State Council, water food of the Yellow Riv• Union, exploits resources but ig• the State Planning Commission er have helped to turn the del• nores the development of new in• instructed its National Land ta area into a rich source of fish, dustries, the kind of develop• Comprehensive Development shrimp, crab and shellfish and ment leads to dry oilfields and Department to organize an inves• making it known worlwide as a bleak cities. The "Los Angeles tigative study by the relevant un• prawn cultivation site. Given its road" is of a longer term nature its. On April 14, 1990, the State abundant seafood, it has the po• that, as is exemplified by the city Planning Commission sent a copy of its Report on the Ques• tential to become a major aquat• of Los Angeles, emphasizes the tion of the Yellow River Delta to ic breeding area. development of a variety of in• the Democratic League Central Such promise draws wide at• dustries and uses oil profits to Committee. The Report says that tention at home and abroad. strengthen urban centres, a de• the Yellow River Delta should On June 28, 1988, Dongying velopment scheme which results simultaneously develop an ener• hosted the "Symposium on the in a prosperous city even after gy industry centred around the Economic, Technological and the well has gone dry. Qian thus petroleum industry, as well as a Social Development Strategy of emphasized the danger inherent chemical industry, agriculture, aquatic products, animal hus• the Yellow River Delta" pro• in a one-track economic plan. Qian further elaborated on the bandry and a processing indus• posed by the Democratic League Question of Developing the Yel• try. The State Planning Commis• Central Committee and the low River Delta, a joint proposal sion agreed with the need for Shandong Provincial Party Com• by Qian and Fei on behalf of the construction of energy and mittee. Professor Qian Wei- the Democratic League Central chemical industries, agriculture chang, vice-chairman of the De- and basic facilities and an• nounced the intention to include Workers at the Shengli Oilfield. SHU PANQl concrete plans in national or lo• cal "Eighth Five-Year Plan of the National Economical and So• cial Development" and the Ten- Year Programme on the premise that national strength permits. According to Liu Yaochuan, director of the Agricultural Economy Department of the State Planning Commission, the state has invested more than 58 million yuan in the Yellow River Delta since 1989 when the area was designated an experimental area for grain and cotton de• velopment. The investment has produced evident benefits. On view of this result, the pro• gramme will continue during the "Eighth Five-Year Plan." •

BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7, 1991 31 CULTURE/SCIENCE

region. In difficult years, the farmers had no other choice but Model Cadre On Screen leave their homeland and make a living in other places. However, Lankao won nationwide fame in nce an American sat words proved to be very prophet• the 1960s, not for its poverty and among a group of Chinese ical. Not long after, as thousands hard life, but for Jiao Yulu, then O young people who were of Chinese saw the feature film Party secretary of the county. discussing the present situation Jiao Yulu recently released by When Jiao fell seriously ill, thou• in China. One of the young men, the Ermei Film Studio and were sands of farmers accompanied driven by a sudden curiosity to moved to tears, Jiao Yulu again him to the hospital; when he hear this American's opinion of became a household hero, sym• died, thousands of people attend• China, asked, "What do you bol of the great selfless quality ed his funeral. Jiao had not done think China needs now?" The of the Party cadres. People cried any earth-shaking thing, but he American answered without the out together, "May there be more had shown the best quality of a least hesitation, "China needs Jiao Yulus in the country." party member: to serve the peo• Jiao Yulu." In Henan Province, central ple heart and soul. Jiao Yulu was a Party cadre in China, there is a small coun• The film focuses on the last the 1960s and until recently his ty called Lankao. Lankao was 15 months of Jiao's life when he name was unknown to many of a place of poverty and natural served as the Party secretary of today's Chftiese young people. calamities. Dust storms, saline- Lankao County. In December However, this American's alkali .soil and floods plagued the 1962, Lankao was again struck by famine. But the rest of the Jiao Yulu is confronted by a group of young beggars on his way to l.ankao. country, also suffering an econo• mic crisis, was unable to offer sutTicient help. Fearing difficult times ahead, many county lead• ers left Lankao for posts in other places. It was at this most diffi• cult time that Jiao was appointed Party secretary of Lankao. At his inaugural meeting, his comrades in the county Parly committee poured out endless complaints and grievances. Jiao said nothing but led them to the railway sta• tion to witness an appalling scene: the farmers, old and young, were crowded into over• loaded trains in a snow storm to flee the famine. The first thing Jiao did was to distribute relief food and mater• ials to the farmers. To show his determination to live with the masses, Jiao moved his family from a richer county to Lankao and settled there. He made on- the-spot investigations and found methods to fight against the na• tural disasters. Although he suf• fered greatly from liver cancer, he devoted himself wholeheart• edly to his work. The film successfully creates the image of Jiao by detailed des• cription of some .of ilie most tri-

32 BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7, 1991 CULTURE / SCIENCE vial matters. An old industrious gardener who had been planting trees all his lifetime died from over-working. This so shocked Jiao that, in order to prevent such tragedies, he bought food grain at high prices for grass-root cadres who were doing the hard• est work but living in the most difficult conditions. This was ac• tually illegal because the state banned any form of private deal• ing in grain. Some people seized the opportunity to attack Jiao and reported his activities to Jiao's superiors. An investigation team headed by the prefecture administrator came to Lankao County to look into the matter. Jiao shouldered all the respon• sibility. After the investigation meeting, which ended at mid• night, the investigators walked .liao Niilii leads the people in a light against the flood. out of the room and into the courtyard where they were con• fronted by a group of over 100 farmers standing in the winter cold. The farmers had heard the news and, afraid that their leader might receive punishment, had walked all the way to the coun• ty capital to wait for the result. When the prefecture administra• tor asked them why they had come, they said unanimously, "We have come to plead innoc• ence for Jiao." The governor was greatly moved and said, "Good! 1 am one of you." Tung trees can stop wind and sand flow. Therefore, to plant as many tung trees as possible be• came a priority in order to free Lankao from the hardship of dust storms. However, a college graduate, Xiao Wei, who was an expert in this area, was prepared Jiao talks with a gardener on how to culti>ate tung trees as wind breakers. to leave Lankao because his fian• cee was unwilling to join him Jiao, holding Wei's hands, said, after your arrival in your home• because conditions there were "Wei, 1 come to say goodbye to town. Wei boarded the train. too hard. One day Jiao went to you." He handed Xiao Wei a As the train pulled away, Jiao see Xiao Wei, only to learn that small bag containing the sandy looked in one window after an• the young man had already gone soil of Lankao Coumy and said, other to locate Wei to take a last to the railway station to leave. "Life here is really too hard for look at him. When he failed to Jiao rushed instantly to the sta• you and you have suffered a lot. see him, he felt rather disap• tion and caught up to Xiao Wei But r still hope that you can help pointed. As he turned away, his who was waiting for the train. us think of a way to control sand eyes suddenly brightened-Wei

BEIJI.NG REVIEW, APRIL 1-7, 1991 I 33 CULTURE / SCIENCE was standing on the platform, Wang Jixi is a graduate of the also contribute to the apprecia• pressing the bag of sand against prestigious Beijing Cinema Aca• tion and development of Ciiii,.."j his chest. demy and is now vice-director artistic heritage and introduce Jiao Ziyun, Jiao's daughter, of the Ermei Film Studio. The Western arts. Through the socie• said after seeing the film, "Li shooting of the film shows his ty, the world will gain a better Xuejian (the actor) has done an artistic courage and insight. The understanding of Chinese callig• excellent job. His acting is natur• film had already become a raphy and paintings. The society al and credible, and we easily household topic even before it elected Yuan Xiaoyuan, a well- accepted him as my father." was completed. On several pre• known art professor and member Li Xuejian is an actor at mier shows, the cinema was of the Chinese People's Political the Central Experimental Dra• filled to capacity. By February 9 Consultative Conference, the ma Troupe. Before Jiao Yulu, Li this year, 420 film copies had president, and He Haixia and played a dozen leading roles in been ordered by film distributing Dong Shouping vice-presidents. dramas, films and TV produc• and releasing companies in prov• • The Environmental Litera• tions. Speaking of his role in this inces and cities, creating a record ture Research Society under the film, Li said, "I built the image in the Chinese film history since China Environmental Science of Jiao Yulu with my flesh and the founding of the People's Re• Research Association was recent• blood. I finished the film about public of China. In order to en• ly founded in Beijing. Starting one month ago, and have so able the audience to see the film from the 1980s, China has listed far refused many directors who at an earlier date, workers at the environmental protection as one wanted me to play in their prod• Shandong Film Copy Develop• of its basic state policies which uctions for the simple reason ing Factory did not take holidays has greatly enhanced the devel• that I still can not pull myself even for Spring Festival, one of opment of environmental protec• out of Jiao's character. I have the most important festivals in tion. However, many people still been an actor for more than ten China. hold an indifferent attitude to• years but Jiao Yulu is my most Some critics suggested that the wards environmental protection. unforgettable role." "Jiao Yulu Craze" was not sim• Chinese writers and artists have "The Jiao in the film is what ply a cultural phenomenon, but produced many literary works we people saw in real life. This a reflection of people's expecta• and films to publicize the im• contributes to the film's great tions and feelings. On the sur• portance of environmental pro• success," said Zhou Changan, face, it revives the memory and tection. The main task of the so• one of the local cadres working respect of Jiao, but in a deeper ciety is to promote the further in the county who saw the film. sense, it is a condemnation of the production of environmental lit• He added, "We are finally able corrupt officials who use their erature. More than 200 writers to see Jiao again whom we have power for personal gains. and artists in Beijing were pre- missed for more than two de• Reviewing China's film indus• I sent at the founding ceremony in cades." The local people contri• try in 1990, Teng Jinxian, direc• i Beijing. buted to the shooting of the film tor of the Film Bureau, said, Jiao • The International Chinese in various ways. Du Chaoren, a Yulii is one of the most success• • Painting Exhibition & Contest farmer in Lankao County, donat• ful films ever made. sponsored by the China Oriental ed his 1,000 yuan savings to the by Hong Lanxing. Culture Research Society will be film shooting team, and Wang held in the first half of this year. Qiu, a young man from Shan• Artists both at home and dong Province, donated 500 News in Brief abroad are invited to enter yuan. Upon learning that this I for the contest. Award-winning was a film about their former • The China International Cal• I works will be placed on display Party secretary, 1,200 farmers ligraphy and Painting Art Re•j together with the works of 150 voluntarily played extras. search Society was recently established Chinese painters. The When asked whether it was founded in Beijing. It is China's works will also be exhibited in outdated to eulogize the spirit of first special calligraphy and other big cities of the country Jiao Yulu in the 1990s, Wang painting research society open to and abroad. Jixing, director of the film said, international artists. It serves as 1 The contest is now open for "Jiao Yulu was an ordinary Par• a centre for international cal- i entrants and has an application ty member and a servant of the ligraphers, artists and critics to deadline of June 1. The award people. Although he was a hero hold artistic and social activities and opening ceremony for the in the 1960s, his spirit still has to establish friendship and or• exhibition will be held in mid- far-reaching effects." ganize cultural exchanges. It will August.

34 BEIJING REVIEW, APRIL 1-7,1991 ART PAQE

The Landscape of Shennongjia.

Chinese Paintings By He Aijun

He Aijun, born in Beijing in 1956, is an artist on the staff of the Jingxi Hotel in Beijing.

A Boat by the Lakeside. Village at the Foot of a Mountain. Excellent Graphite Flakes

The Yunshan Graphite Faaory in Pingdu, Shandong Province, situated in the suburbs of Qingdao, is China's chief supplier of high-quality graphite material. Our products which have won the title of provincial excellent goods are sold worldwide to over 30 countries and regions. Our faaory owns five large graphite mines and has built medium, conductive and high-carbon processing faaories to manufacture a series of graphite products. We also provide various types of excellent raw graphite for the iron and steel, metallurgical, machine-building, chemical, electronics, aviation and space industries. Domestic and international enquiries and orders are welcome.

n-^'i^l A III|J % '^^%Mtl stilml : 'J: SiTf f . .'A .. '

International Agent Hua Yuan Science & Tech Development Co., Ltd, China Intematiotul Association for Promotion of Science & Technology Domestic Business: Yunshan Iixlustrial Commission, Pingdu, Shandong Address: 37 Xueyuan Lu, Haidian District, Beijing, China Contact Zcng Xianwen Postcode 100063 Tel: 2025173, 2024183 Postcode 262845 Cable 4375 Beijing Fax: (01) 2019583