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Breakthroughs made in reform, opening: Premier （3） |
| CCTV.COM 2003-03-05 09:03:14 |
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During these five years, the framework of a social security system was established by and large, the report says.
The establishment of basic old－age pension and medical insurance systems in urban areas has made significant headway. Systems of basic living allowances for laid－off workers from state－owned enterprises, unemployment insurance, and subsistence allowances for the urban poor were established.
The coverage of social security programs continued to expand. The number of urban residents participating in the basic old－age pension program, the basic medical insurance system and the unemployment insurance program increased significantly. Needy urban residents came gradually under the coverage of the subsistence allowances program, and we made sure that all eligible urban residents were by and large provided for.
A national social security fund was established, and it has already accumulated 124.2 billion yuan of capital. Significant progress was made in reforming the basic medical insurance system for urban workers, the health care system, and the drug production and distribution system. Pilot projects to introduce a new cooperative medical care system in rural areas were launched. Accelerated development of the social security system provides an effective guarantee for maintaining social stability, deepening reforms, making structural readjustments and furthering development.
The report says that China's opening up was expanded in greater scope and depth.
China's foreign trade has taken several big steps forward. The combined volume of imports and exports increased from 325.2 billion US dollars in 1997 to 620.8 billion US dollars in 2002, raising China from the 10th to the fifth place in the world. The country's total exports increased from 182.8 billion US dollars to 325.6 billion US dollars. China has continued to optimize its export mix.
China has markedly improved its ability to use foreign investment. The amount of foreign direct investment actually used over the past five years came to 226.1 billion US dollars, more than the total used in the 1979－1997 period. Significant increases in using foreign capital occurred in high and new－tech industries, infrastructure and service industries.
Owing to the "going global" strategy, outbound investment, construction contracts for overseas projects and labor cooperation programs kept growing. After 15 years of arduous efforts, China became a full member of the World Trade Organization （WTO） in December 2001, which was a new landmark in our opening up, according to the report.
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Editor: Han Ling Source:Xinhua
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