Wu Xueqian on World Relations CALL FOR BETTER URBAN ENVIRONMENT BeijingR^r HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK I VOL. 30, NO. 2 JAN. !2, 1987 COMTENTS p. 14 P- 23 - I40TES FROM THE EDITORS Democracy & Legal System Wu Xueqian Talks On Worrd Situation EVENTS/TRENDS 5-9 New Year in Beijing • In an interview with reporters on December 31, 1986, State "l-'our Principles' Essential to China Councilor and Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian answered Study Abroad: No Panic questions on the world situation. He pointed out that the forces Citizens Pray for Happier 1987 working for world peace were growing faster than the factors Weekly Chronicle (Dec. 29-Jan. 4) for war and the efforts for world peace have a brighter future (p. 14). INTERNATIONAL 10-13 Democracy & Legal System Vict Nam: Occupation of Kam• puchea Harmful to Economy • China still needs to improve its democracy and legal system. South Korea: 1986—An Unstable To accomplish this, it is imperative to adhere to the Party's leadership and the socialist road. The recent student South Africa: Apartheid at Home demonstrations have disrupted normal production and work. \nd Sabotage Abroad It is hoped that under the correct guidance of the government, France: 1986: Year of Political school authorities and society the students will halt all harmful "Cohabitation' actions (p. 4). Foreign Minister Wu Talks About World Situation 14 Steady Growth of China's National Economy China's Economy: A Healthy Stride Forward 17 • A senior official of the State Economic Commission says Urban Environmental Protection China's national economy kept up a steady development in Weil Under Way 20 1986, both in rural and urban areas. Problems, however, persist Luoyang Arrests the 'Yellow (p. 17). Dragon* 22 The Young: Similar Smiles, Dif• ferent Manners 24 ^ For Better City Environmental Protection BUSiNESSARAOE 26 27 CULTURE/SCIENCE 28-30 • After more than a decade's effort, China made some progress in environmental protection by checking air pollution, Tourism 31 controlling noise, and planting trees, as examplified by the case BOOKS 32-34 of Luoyang (see subduing tha "Yellow Dragon"). However I COVER: Value our world. pollution remains a serious problem and the work to overcome I Dravm by Zhu Zhiren and Wei XInan it will be long and hard (p. 22) ],0e0tp\l iSffice t^i? 893860 Sob5cripHon prices (1 year): . Jis; US$22.00 Ausfralia A.$22.00 Canodo Can.S21.00 Distributed by China tnlemat(»naf Book 24 feciwon-ihuong Rood, deijing N*w Zealand NZ.$30.00 UK £12.00 m NOTES FROM THE EDITORS trampled underfoot and their individual liberties disregarded. Democracy & Legal System The turmoil was a tragic disaster by An Zhiguo for the state and the people, an overwhelming majority of whom were affected. ecent resolutions adopted by to speak out now than in previous Recently, some university stu• R the Communist Party years. This is in sharp contrast dents in Hefei (Anhui Province), of China have repeatedly stressed with the situation during the Shanghai, Nanjing, Beijing and that establishing a democratic "cultural revolution" (1966-76). other cities took to the streets socialist political system is one of Under the leadership of the calling for freedom and democ• the fundamental tasks of the Party, the Chinese people are racy. Their actions did not have socialist revolution. The ..new carrying out economic and the support of local residents. This Constitution of the People's political reforms. These reforms, shows that the people detested the Republic of China passed at the being unprecedented and experi• chaos of the so-called "mass 1982 National People's Congress mental, cannot be expected to be democracy." and value their hard- says that people of all nationalities won political stability and unity. in China must "turn China into a Most of the students who took socialist country with a high level part in the demonstrations were of culture and democracy." well-intentioned; they were con• (China's reforms are a cerned to support democracy and Over the last eight years China process of improving the freedom; but they were impatient has experienced sustained, stable socialist system. To ensure and some took extreme actions. and balanced economic develop• Quite a few students had only a ment, political stability and a their success, it is vague understanding of democ• strengthening of its socialist racy and freedom, and were democracy and legal system. imperative to adhere to the Party's leadership and the unable to define exactly what it China has abolished the system was they were seeking. Some of cadres for life, and direct socialist road. seemed to think that democracy elections have been introduced in and freedom meant they could do county-level people's congresses whatever they wanted to. as well as some work units. smooth or satisfactory in every China's socialist democratic Deputies to the people's con• aspect. Even the best decisions can system is not perfect, and so it is gresses above that level are elected only be implemented step by step. necessary to continue building up from among a larger number of This is also true of building a democratic political life. All nominees, whose names are only democracy. suggestions and constructive criti• decided upon after repeated Democracy is not an isolated cism are welcomed by the Party discussions among various social phenomenon but is condit• and government. But it is democratic parties and people's ioned by many factors including important to remember that organizations. The role of the the economy, the social environ• China's reforms are a process of NPC, the highest state organ, is ment, ideology and culture. improving our socialist system. To being strengthened. It is playing Therefore, building democracy ensure success, it is imperative to an increasingly decisive role in can only progress along with adhere to the Party's leadership formulating important state prin• economic, political, and cultural and the socialist road — this is ciples and policies and supervising developments. enshrined in the Constitution. No their implementation. The "cultural revolution" was one is allowed, on any pretext, to During the reform of the once known for its "mass move away from the Party's economic structure, enterprises democracy." But in fact that is a leadership and the socialist road, were granted greater decision• mockery of the truth. In those nor is one allowed to infringe on making powers and the super• days some people spoke out freely, the democratic rights and free• visory role of the workers' wrote big-character posters and doms of others. congress was promoted. In the held great debates. Under the fields of literature, art and science, pretext of practising such "mass Some students are concerned the policy of "letting a hundred democracy," they made ground• only with their freedom to flowers bloom and a hundred less charges against others and did demonstrate but they forget that schools of thought contend" has what they wished, free from the in exercising their rights, they been implemented. Visitors will ! restraints of law. The democratic must not harm the interests of the notice a much greater willingness rights of most people were state, the society and the 4 BEIJING RFMEW. NO. 2 EVENTSARENDS New Year in Beijing hina's experience in 1986 China will also continue to Cproved again that the nation improve socialist democracy and could have achieved no success in legal system, he said. He added its reforms and economic develop• that at present, the Chinese people ment without the leadership of the should do everything to ensure Chinese Communist Party, Vice- stability and unity and resist any President Ulanhu said January 1 ideological trend towards in Beijing. bourgeois liberalization. "Any words or actions that Other New Year's Day activ• deny the Party's leadership and ities included a gathering of about the socialist system or advocate 4,000 Beijing children at bourgeois liberalization are essen• Tiananmen Square, the centre tially against the people's inter• of the capital. They took part in a ests, and the historical trend, and ceremony at the Monument to the collective, or infringe on the rights will surely be opposed by the People's Heroes, and 100 took of others. In Shanghai and people," said Ulanhu, who is a turns standing guard at the Nanjing for example, student Mongolian. monument to honour "the beautiful future of the demonstrations in downtown Ulanhu made his remarks at a motherland." areas held up city traffic for a reception held by the National while. So people missed trains and Committee of the Chinese On New Year's Day, 1987, ships, many more could not get to People's Political Consultative many shop assistants in Beijing work in time. Conference (CPPCC) and atten• gave up their holiday to serve To guarantee citizens their ded by more than 400 people from customers. Holiday business was legitimate rights as laid down in all walks of life. He also offered brisk despite the freezing cold and the Constitution, some cities have New Year's greetings from the more snow than the city has seen drawn up regulations concerning Party's Central Committee and in several years. Admission to all demostrations. This is essential to the State Council to China's non- public parks was free that day. the further improvement of communist parties, to people Tourists and residents alike democracy and the legal system. throughout the mainland, and to enjoyed Beijing's snow-covered It must he noted that a handful compatriots in Taiwan, Hong landscape, rivers and ponds were of bad elements infiltrated the Kong and Macao and overseas. crowded with iceskaters. and lovers strolled along snowy paths. student ranks and incited the Ulanhu said China achieved students into violence in an political stability and unity and The day was also a busy one at attempt to sabotage political made steady progress on all many factories, where work stability and unity.