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China's Premier Opens Parliament with Promises to Spread Prosperity,
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Ease Tensions
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1683E69:A6F02AD83191E160B7885EC061424B639574F7DCC14957C0 Wen Jiabao facing
growing unrest in countryside, where many have not benefited from
nation's rapid economic growth Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is promising
to boost funding for education and healthcare for the poor, and to do
more to protect the country's environment in the face of breakneck
growth. Wen's remarks came at the opening Monday of this year's
session of the National People's Congress, China's parliament. VOA
correspondent Luis Ramirez reports from Beijing.







Wen Jiabao shakes hands with Vice Premier Wu Yi, right, at end of
National People's Congress opening ceremony, 5 Mar. 2007Premier Wen
Jiabao's pledge to assist China's poorest comes as the communist
government deals with growing unrest in the countryside - where many
have not benefited from the nation's rapid economic growth.

"(We will) persist in (the principle) of putting people first to
promote faster progress in solving the most immediate and practical
problems…to safeguard fairness and allow all people to enjoy the
achievements of reform and development," he said.

Wen spoke to the gathering of nearly 3,000 delegates, whom at the end
of the two-week legislative session will give symbolic approval to a
series of new measures put forth by the Communist Party leadership.

With much fanfare, the delegates assembled in Beijing's huge Great
Hall of the People for the start of the session.

The Communist leadership is under pressure to address the types of
things that have caused unrest, such as land seizures and
environmental abuses that are ruining farmers' livelihoods.

In his remarks Monday, Wen said the government will take strong - but
unspecified - measures to protect the environment, improve land use,
and lower energy consumption.







National People's Congress (file photo)As to specifics on this year's
legislative agenda: there will be a nationwide allowance system for
poor families to meet the minimum cost of living, corporate tax reform
and a new law to safeguard private property. The property measure had
been held up by hardliners in the party who saw this as contrary to
socialist doctrine.

In his two-hour speech Monday, Premier Wen noted China's economy is
projected to grow by about eight percent this year. Although experts
say growth is likely to be closer to 10 percent, as it has been for
the past several years.

Wen also pledged to accelerate the modernization of China's armed
forces. This came a day after China announced it is boosting its
military budget by nearly 18 percent this year.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, speaking during a stop
in Beijing Sunday, said the U.S. remains concerned about what he says
is the lack of transparency surrounding China's military buildup.


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