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| Private business lobby grows in China |
| CCTV.COM 2003-03-10 11:03:58 |
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Private businessmen are attracting the limelight at the ongoing CPPCC and NPC sessions in Beijing. Once an absent voice in the nation's political arena, this newborn force nurtured by China's reform and opening－up has come to play an increasingly active role in helping shape the country.
Xu Guanju is a member of a group of much sought－after individuals at the ongoing CPPCC session －－ because of their dual role as multi－millionaires and as members of the nation's top political consultation body. Xu Guanju’s Transfers Group has total assets worth 100 million US dollars.
Xu is a two－term member of the CPPCC National Committee, but his recent election as Chairman of the Zhejiang provincial Federation of Industry and Commerce －－ a rare instance in China, adds another dimension to his mission.
"It is a great honor for me to participate in this historic conference. I will try my best to live up to the role bestowed on me by my fellow countrymen," said Xu Guanju.
Like his fellow CPPCC members, Xu attended the NPC opening session as an observer and listened to Premier Zhu Rongji's government work report. Xu said the Premier's remarks in respect to the private sector gave him good reason for encouragement.
Back at his hotel, Xu is adding some last minute touches to his proposals －－ a major channel to exercise his power of political consultation. One of his proposals this year is about enhancing the overall competitiveness of private businesses in the post－WTO era. Apart from this, he is also concerned about developing a sound support system for agricultural development. He says he'll never forget how he started his career as a farmer and the fact that his business has strong country roots.
In Zhejiang, his business now incorporates a huge agricultural park. Employing high－tech methods, it produces seeds and seedlings for farmers to promote agricultural industrialization in that part of the country.
Xu says his motivation to participate in politics is fueled by a compelling passion to help the nation grow stronger. "Much has been said about the active participation of private businessmen in politics. I think that rather than out of a mere interest in politics, most businessmen choose to get involved in politics because they want China to become more prosperous. We hope that through our proposals and efforts, we can offer some assistance in policy making," said Xu Guanju.
Xu is one of many private enterprise bosses used to working in dual capacities. With the private sector now accounting for more than one third of China's GNP, private businessmen have become a rising force in two of China's major political institutions. Statistics show that about 35 percent of them are CPPCC members at various levels and about 17 percent of them are People's Congress deputies. The increasing participation of private businessmen in political affairs was most clearly demonstrated by last year's national congress of the Chinese Communist Party, one that included members from the private sector for the first time in history.
This year, the number of private businessmen as NPC deputies or CPPCC members reaches a record high, which is one proof of the rapidly growing private sector in the national economy. As the private sector continues to boom, its major players will be expected to exert a greater voice in the nation's political arena and this will bring about fresh changes to Chinese political landscape.
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Editor: Han Ling CCTV.com
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