Extracts.
Tuesday, December 19, 2000, updated at 21:09(GMT+8)
China Still Faces Grim Population Situation
China can hardly be optimistic about its population
situation in the coming five years, with its
population increasing by 10 million annually, said
Zhang Weiqing, minister in charge of the State Family
Planning Commission Tuesday, December 19.
Whether the low birth rate can be stabilized is a
matter of great importance and it will affect the
overall situation, Zhang said at a press conference
held by the Information Office of the State Council.
Zhang said that the comparatively low education level
of the population as a whole can not be changed
within a short period of time. With the increasing
pressure on employment and an aging population, the
contradiction between population, socio-economic
development, resource utilization and environmental
protection would appear to be an acute one.
He said that the society in China is not yet fully
aware of the importance of solving the population
problem, without a considerable number of people
entirely changing their concept of childbearing.
The family planning management system, working style,
the quality of service delivery as well as the
quality of family planning workers cannot fully meet
the requirements of the current situation. Therefore,
there is an urgent need to speed up the reform and
improvement of the program, said Zhang.
When explaining China's future population policies,
Zhang said that it is essential to stabilize the low
birth rate and improve the health of the new born.
Policy decisions should be made with the integration
of the population and development. Decisions should
bring the population and family planning program in
line with the overall plan for socio-economic
development. In accordance with the main family
planning policy, a series of auxiliary policies
favorable to the sound implementation of the family
planning program have to be formulated, said Zhang.
He stressed that legislation is an urgent need for
the implementation of the population and family
planning program. It is necessary to speed up the
formulation of relevant national laws and
regulations. Efforts should be made to set up a
relatively complete legal system in the population
and family planning field in the coming five years,
so that the program could be managed in accordance
with the law.
A breakthrough is to be made in implementing the
population and family planning program in west China
during the large scale development of the region,
said Zhang.
In addition, quality services for family planning and
reproductive health are to be offered, and activities
for promoting new marriage customs are to be further
carried out throughout the country.
Zhang added that it is necessary to strengthen the
control of migratory population with better services
and pay more attention to the aging of the
population.
****
Wednesday, December 20, 2000, updated at 11:55(GMT+8)
"One Country, Two Systems" Be Adhered to as
Indivisible Concept: Jiang
President Jiang Zemin said December 20 at a meeting
marking the first anniversary of Macao's return to
China that the "one country, two systems" should
continue to be adhered to as a basic principle in
handling Macao affairs.
"`One country, two systems' is an indivisible
concept," he said. The term "one country" means two
things:
-- First, it means Macao is part of the motherland
and the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) is
directly under the jurisdiction of the Central
People's Government and enjoys a high degree of
autonomy in accordance with the Constitution and the
Basic Law.
-- Second, the mainland of China always serves as a
strong backing for the Macao SAR.
"Macao cannot do without the forceful support of the
mainland, which has been true in the past and will
continue to be so in the future," Jiang stressed,
noting that the reform, opening-up and modernization
drive of the mainland will bring more and more
opportunities to Macao.
The economic recovery and growth in Macao since its
return is the result of the concerted efforts of
people of all circles in
Macao under the leadership of SAR Government and the
support of the mainland, he said. "In the future, the
mainland will continue to furnish unfailing support
to Macao for its development on all fronts," the
president pledged.
Jiang pointed out that by "two systems", we mean that
the main part of the country sticks to the socialist
system while Macao retains the capitalist system and
its way of life.
The Central Government will not intervene in the
affairs that fall within the autonomy of the Macao
SAR, he said, stressing that this is a principle that
should be adhered to forever.
"The Macao SAR on its part should take concrete
measures to defend the national interests and the
authority of the Central Government and should never
allow anyone to stage any activities in Macao against
the Central Government or to split the country,"
Jiang said.
"This principle should also be observed," he said.
Since its return, Macao has done a lot in
implementing the principle of "one country, two
systems" in an all-round manner. With more experience
gained in this regard, Macao will surely do a better
job in the future, Jiang said.
Facts have forcefully proved that the principles of
"one country, two systems" and "Macao people
administering Macao with a high degree of autonomy"
are absolutely correct and the people in Macao are
highly capable of managing Macao affairs well, the
President said.
Macao Should Be Administered According to Law
The President said efforts should be made to ensure
that Macao is administered in accordance with law.
"Strict observance of the Basic Law is an important
guarantee for the maintenance of long-term
prosperity, stability and development in Macao," he
said.
The Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative
Region (SAR) was formulated by the highest organ of
state power, in line with China's Constitution with
extensive participation of the compatriots in Macao,
he said, adding that "this law fully reflects the
common will and fundamental interests of the entire
Chinese people, our compatriots in Macao included."
It is national law for the implementation of the
principle of "one country, two systems" in all areas,
he said, stressing that "all departments under the
Central Government, all localities and people of all
ethnic groups in China should uphold and observe the
Basic Law."
The Basic Law has prescribed the basic political,
economic and social systems that should be adopted by
the Macao SAR, the relationship between the Central
Government and the SAR, and the rights and freedoms
of the residents in the SAR.
"People from all walks of life in Macao should
conscientiously follow the Basic Law as their code of
conduct," Jiang said.
Favorable Social Environment Should Be Created for
Macao's Development
It is essential to create a favorable social
environment for the long-term prosperity, stability
and development in Macao.
"The ill public order in Macao before its return not
only aroused concern among the local residents but
also affected its neighboring areas," Jiang recalled.
Since the return, the Macao SAR Government, with the
support of the Central Government, has dealt a heavy
blow on various evil forces, which has resulted in
visibly improved law and order and better economic
performance in Macao, he said.
"The relatively more stable social environment in
Macao today requires everyone to cherish and
maintain," he pointed out.
"Everybody in China, in Macao or the mainland, should
refuse to do anything destructive to the prosperity,
stability and development in Macao," Jiang said.
Both history and reality of human development have
proved that economic prosperity and social progress
cannot be achieved without a stable environment, and
this is true to the mainland and true to Macao, too,
he said.
"In a modern society, the mass media have great
influence on people, which requires that the media
not only value freedom of the press but also pay
attention to their social responsibilities and play a
more positive role in matters bearing on Macao's
prosperity and the interests of the state and the
people," Jiang said.
Authority of Chief Executive Should be Maintained
It is important to maintain the Chief Executive's
authority and support his work.
The Chief Executive of the Macao Special
Administrative Region (SAR) was elected according to
the Basic Law and appointed by the Central
Government, and this is an indication of the exercise
by our compatriots in Macao of their democratic
rights, he said.
"It is unprecedented in the history of Macao," he
said.
Under the Basic Law, the Chief Executive should be
accountable not only to the Macao SAR but also to the
Central Government, and the Basic Law gives the Chief
Executive, the head of both the SAR and SAR
Government, a high position and a great mandate,
according to the President.
"The Central Government is satisfied with the way in
which Mr. Ho Hau Wah has governed the territory," he
said, adding that "I hope that people from all walks
of life in Macao will conscientiously maintain the
authority of their Chief Executive and support and
assist his administration."
"I also believe that Mr. Ho Hau Wah will never fail
the trust and expectations of the Central Government
and the general public in Macao," he said.
Expectations of Macao Relevant to HK
President Jiang Zemin said that his expectations of
Macao also apply to Hong Kong.
Like Hong Kong, Macao is also faced with the problems
left over from the prolonged colonial rule and the
serious impact of the Asian financial crisis since
its return, and in view of this, it is not at all
easy for Macao to make such achievements as we see
today, Jiang said.
"Although Hong Kong is not the same in all aspects as
Macao, I believe what I have touched upon is also
relevant to Hong Kong," Jiang said.
****
Wednesday, December 20, 2000, updated at 10:03(GMT+8)
Middle East Economic Growth Robust in 2001
The Middle East countries achieved an inspiring
economic growth of 5.1 percent in 2000 and the growth
in 2001 will remain robust, a Beirut-based UN
commission said Tuesday, December 19.
A statement from the Economic and Social Commission
for Western Asia (ESCWA) added that the growth rate
was 2.6 percent in 1999 and 1.7 percent in 1998.
The ESCWA consists of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United
Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon,
Oman, Qatar, Syria, Yemen, Jordan and Palestine.
It attributed the giant economic growth in 2000 to a
long-time high oil price.
The growth rate in Gulf Cooperation Council
countries, which groups Saudi Arabia, the UAE,
Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, was 5.8 percent,
raising the average growth in the region.
With an increase of 70.8 percent from previous year,
the oil revenues skyrocketed to 166 billion U.S.
dollars in 2000, the highest since 1981.
Egypt, Jordan and Yemen registered 3.2 percent growth
rates, with Syria at 1.5 percent and Lebanon 1
percent.
The average growth in 2001, except Iraq, will reach 4
percent, one of the highest since 1992, the statement
said.
The organization also urged members to expedite
structural economic reforms and privatization,
establish a united Arabic market and enhance economic
cooperation.
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