What does the Decade of Western Development s Drive mean for Sichuan Province?
The phasic result shows that Sichuan s GDP jumped from RMB 364.9 billion in 1999 to RMB 1415.1billion in 2009. The per-capita disposable income of urban residents reached RMB 4,462, registering an average annual growth of 9.8%; per capita net income of farmers were RMB 4,462, increasing by 9.2% on an annual basis in 2009. The decade of the western development drive is a decade of the fastest and soundest social and economic development, of the most dramatic change in the look of urban and rural area, and of the most tangible benefits for the people.
The process of development shows that over the past ten years of the western development drive, Sichuan has continuously examined its own development stage and closely combined the periodic features of development with the requirements of scientific development, so as to make leap-forward strides for Sichuan Province.
Reviewing the past decade and looking into the future, secretary of provincial Party committee and director of Standing Committee of Provincial People's Congress Liu Qibao said since the western development drive was implemented a decade ago, the central government has constantly increased support for western regions in terms of policy, fund input and project designation etc, and the Western region has entered the stage of accelerating development.
Firmly seizing the historic opportunity of the western development drive, Sichuan has been vigorously pursuing pursuant and leap-forward development, and making tremendous progress. The development of the Western Region and Sichuan Province firmly proves that the central government s decision to implement the western development drive is completely correct.
We should take advantage of such a favorable situation to advance. Based on the new standing point of the western development, we should make further progress in opening-up and cooperation, spearhead in the development and opening of the West, and achieve new successes in Sichuan s scientific development.
In the past ten years, Sichuan focused on five aspects, namely, infrastructure construction, ecological improvement, rejuvenating Sichuan by science and education, reform and opening up. With great progress in respect of economic and social development, Sichuan has entered the intermediate stage of industrialization while industrialization was only at the primary stage in general a decade ago.
Deputy Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and Governor of Sichuan Province Jiang Jufeng said that at present, the Western Region has entered a new stage of full-scale development and opening-up; we are confident and determined that we can seize the opportunity and strike to attain the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects with down-to-earth style in the nest decade.
Article : To begin a new journey of leapfrog development
From pursuant and leap-forward development to accelerated development, scientific development, sound and fast development, Sichuan is entering a crucial stage in which an economic take-off is sought with accumulated strength.
In 1999, Sichuan s GDP was RMB 364.9 billion, up 5.6% over the same period last year. It was the starting point of Sichuan when the Western Development Drive began.
What sort of starting point is it? The growth rate of 5.6% was 1.5 percentage point lower than the national average in the same year, ranking dead last in China. The major development indexes of the province were also lower than the national average then. In May 2000, a note on seizing the opportunity of the Western Development Drive to accelerate development adopted at the seventh Plenary Session of the seventh CCP Provincial Committee required to seize the opportunity of the western development drive to realize pursuant and leap-forward development.
In 2007, Sichuan became the first province in West China that had a GDP of over RMB one trillion. Had the goal of pursuant and leap-forward development been fulfilled? The answer was given at the fourth Plenary Session of the ninth CCP Provincial Committee the most important provincial condition of Sichuan is still the same, that is, a large population but a weak economic foundation, backward in economy and development is uneven; the most fundamental situation of Sichuan is that the dual structure of urban and rural areas remains an outstanding problem, and the features of the primary stage is still obvious; the biggest problem of Sichuan remains: economy and society is underdeveloped and the level of development is relatively low.
As a less-developed province located in West China, Sichuan should particularly stick to the principle of developing as fast as possible, gaining strong momentum of fast and sound development. With such a consensus, to develop with an increasing speed, to develop scientifically, to develop rapidly and soundly has become the general guideline for the whole province.
Under the guideline of to develop with an increasing speed , the development of Sichuan Province is further quickened. Sichuan s investment scale in the past two years almost equals to the overall scale of investment in fixed assets during the first seven years of the new century. A large amount of key infrastructure projects and industrial projects with high level of modernization, good economic returns and far-reaching modeling and leading effects are constructed with a quickened pace; a large amount of new economic growth points are cultivated; and the demand that supports economic development is on the rise.
Features of the new stage are consequently revealed Sichuan is entering a crucial stage in which an economic take-off is sought with accumulated strength. Sichuan s economic development is on the rise, key problems are tackled during the construction of major projects, energy and strength accumulated for development are released, and the foundation is laid for rapid economic development in the western region.
Look again at the condition of Sichuan province, a conclusion could be made: In Sichuan, accelerating the pace of development is our priority. Our general target should be firmly followed focusing on the central task of economic construction and amount of economic aggregate. At the same time, to transform the mode of development is the key to economic construction and basic requirement for a sustained, rapid economic growth.
The path for economic development is thus much clearer. Upgrading of the industrial structure is required in order to expand the space that is favorable to economic growth; the development of strategic new industries and strengthening of innovation is also required in order to foster a new point that will guarantee a sustained and rapid economic growth; modernization of rural areas and coordination between rural and urban areas are demanded in order to promote sustained and rapid economic growth; regional economy and cooperation must be strengthened in order that a new growth pole favorable to sustained and rapid economic growth is formed.
From 2008 earthquake to 2010 international financial crisis, Sichuan province made full use of the following three opportunities to get over those disasters the post-earthquake reconstruction, expansion of domestic demand and Development of Western China.
Two economic work meetings of the Provincial Party Committee were held during those two years, but the atmosphere were rather different. At the end of the year 2008, people attended the meeting with a somewhat solemn mood. At the end of the year 2009, however, their solemnity was replaced by gallantry.
The process of change in their state of mind mirrors that Sichuan province, by grasping tightly the three opportunities, has turned disadvantages into favorable chances and advanced ahead despite of difficulties. During the process of the post-earthquake reconstruction, Sichuan made full use of the supporting policies implemented by China s central government and thus ensured the objectives made for three years can be completed in two years.
Besides, Sichuan overcame many difficulties against economic development, speeding up the process of economic growth. Facing the opportunity of expanding domestic needs, Sichuan people s government formulated a package of policy named Expanding Domestic Needs, Maintaining Economic Growth with no hesitation.
In this way, with accelerated economic development, Sichuan enjoyed a more valuable economic growth. In the year 2009, the GDP of Sichuan province has increased by 14.5%, which has set a new record since the opening up of Sichuan province. Local general budget revenue has also increased by 21.9%.
During the process of the Development of Western China, the construction of western China highland has been promoted. To enhance the economic development of western China highland is to pinpoint Sichuan s historic position in the process of the Development of Western China. Being in accordance with the national strategy, the regional development strategy has promoted the economic development of West China highlands.
By taking the three opportunities, Sichuan has always been initiative in the reconstruction, expanding of domestic needs and the West China Development. If knowledge was needed in re-inspecting the condition of Sichuan province, then resolution is shown in turning disadvantages into chances. The resolution is our morale, courage and vitality.
To enhance the economic development of western China highland is to pinpoint Sichuan s historic position in the process of the Development of Western China. During the great Development of Western China, the economic development of western highland is rapidly pushed forward.
At the 9th plenary session of the 4th Provincial Committee, a strategy of constructing a western economic development highland was formulated. This strategy will cover western China, as well as orienting towards the whole country and integrating into the world.
Sichuan s economy will head into a higher level with the development of western highland. This process will comprehensively enhance Sichuan s leading role in western China, and enable it to be one of the developed provinces in China, as well as laying the foundation for Sichuan s important position in China s economic development as a whole.
The basic contents and tasks of Western Economic Development Highland are one hub, three centers and four bases . One hub means a hub of communication by connecting South and North, East and West with convenient transportation. Three centers means that Sichuan is to build into a logistic center, business center and financial center in western China.
Four bases indicates four important bases to be build, namely, the Strategic Resource Development Base, Modern Processing and Manufacturing Base, the base for industrialization of technological innovation and a base for intensive processing of farm product.
To build a comprehensive transportation hub in western China is Sichuan s basic and guiding strategy for promoting highland economy, and which will exert its influence on the development of Sichuan for the next 100 years. Two years has witnessed the construction of a bunch of railroads, motor roads, water transportation system and other major project as Sichuan s outbound airway.
There has been some substantial breakthrough for the construction of the hub of communication in western China. 15 accesses to Sichuan have been constructed recently, including 7 railroads, 7 highroads, 1 water way. The total length of different kinds of transportation routes has reached 231,000 kilometers, with the length of railroad in service up to 3086 kilometers, the length of motor road in service up to 224.
5 thousand kilometers, the length of highroad in service up to 2188 kilometers, and the length of navigable inland waterways up to 4026 kilometers. There is also one large civil aviation airport and ten regional airports.
The process of Western China Development is also the process of opening up West China. Opening up and cooperation is the driving force for a faster post-earthquake reconstruction and a faster economic development of West China highlands.
Initiated in 2000 when the Western Development was also launched, the Western China International Economy and Trade Fair was confronted with a severe test in 2008.
Sichuan, which had just been positioned strategically as the highland for economic development in the western region, expected more of the fair as a platform of opening-up and cooperation than ever before. However, the 5?12 mega-earthquake striking Wenchuan disturbed the original plan. Would the Western China International Economy and Trade Fair be held smoothly?
Having been postponed for five months, the 9th Western China International Economy and Trade Fair was eventually held in Chengdu. This fair responded to people s doubts with fruitful achievements. The signed investment projects numbered 795, with the trade volume of 57.667 billion RMB and a value of 300.
452 billion RMB, surpassing the total value for the previous eight sessions. The 10th Western China International Economy and Trade Fair held in October, 2009, turned out to be an even greater success. During the five-day fair, the 12 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in West China have signed 1339 investment projects with a total value of 591.
139 billion RMB, exceeding the sum value of the previous nine sessions by 140 billion RMB. In the 10th Western China International Economy and Trade Fair, our province has signed 1146 investment projects with a total volume of 470.527 billion RMB. As a strong economic power in West China, Sichuan has fully demonstrated its development advantages and huge potential.
Besides, its position as the optimal choice for domestic and foreign investment in West China has also been elevated.
The process of Western Development coincides with the opening-up of West China. For establishing Sichuan as the highland of western economic development, opening-up and cooperation is the way out. As a national and even international economy and trade fair, as well as a summit for political and economic integration and interaction, the Western China International Economy and Trade Fair is an important platform for Sichuan to open up and cooperate with the outside world.
The fair also epitomizes Sichuan s efforts of promoting its breakthrough through opening-up and advancing its development by cooperation with others.
Sichuan is an important meeting point and transport corridor, connecting South China and Central China, southwest and northwest as well as linking Central Asia and Southeast Asia. It is also a crucial bridgehead for Western Development and opening-up of the inland areas in China. Sichuan should emphasize its southward development, reinforce its eastward development and unblock its westward development.
In addition, it is to broaden its regional cooperation, enhance sub-regional cooperation, promote the pan-area cooperation and actively participate in international and regional cooperation as well. Implementation of the opening-up and cooperation strategies which are characterized by expansion in three directions and advancement in four dimensions has boosted the opening-up of Sichuan continuously.
Opening-up and cooperation have injected great impetus to Sichuan for accelerating its post-disaster home reconstruction and building itself as the highland of the western economic development.
Part Two All for People s Well-being
From solving people s practical problems to implementation of people s livelihood projects , we insist on that the fruits of development be shared by people and the priority should be given to improving people s livelihood.
For the past ten years when Sichuan implemented Western Development, it has consistently given priority to improving people s livelihood.
From 2001 to 2006, the Sichuan Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government put doing ten things favoring people on the top of their annual work agenda;
In 2007, the Sichuan Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government carried out ten actions benefiting people ;
In 2008 and 2009, the Sichuan Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government implemented eight livelihood projects ;
In 2010, the Sichuan Party Committee and Provincial Government increased the number of livelihood projects to ten from eight;
In the past ten years, despite changes of the project names and adjustments of the project contents, the central tasks of the successive Sichuan Provincial Party Committees and Provincial Governments have remained unchanged. They have started their work with issues which are directly linked to people s real interests and are greatly cared by people, improving people s livelihood continuously and sharing the fruits of development with people.
Employment is the basic of people s livelihood. Along with solving the unemployment of
laid-off workers caused by the reform of the state-owned enterprises, we have gradually established the employment promotion mechanism covering all the laborers in both urban and rural areas for the past ten years. In August, 2005, Sichuan took the lead in launching the campaign of helping those families with zero employment . Since 2007, Sichuan has basically realized household employment for three years, which is really remarkable for such a populous province in the west China.
Ten years ago, many of the old in the countryside of Sichuan still relied on bringing up children to support them in their old age. By the end of December, 2009, twenty-one counties in Sichuan have been set up as the trial bases of new social old-age insurance scheme in the countryside. Owing to this, in the rural households with residents above the age of 60, their annual incomes have been increased by more than six hundred RMB, tantamount to 13% of income per capita of the rural residents in Sichuan Province.
With the improvement of the insurance systems concerning old pension, medical treatment, unemployment, work injury, and child birth as well as the establishment of systems including resident insurance in both urban and rural areas, new rural cooperative medical scheme and new rural insurance scheme, a social security network covering the urban and rural areas in Sichuan has taken shape, enabling residents both from urban and rural areas to lead a life of proper support for the old, timely medical treatment for the sick and necessary help for the needy.
Centering on improving people s livelihood, Sichuan Province has been accelerating its development of social undertakings and its public service has been improved constantly.
For the past ten years, all kinds of education in our province has been advanced comprehensively. The nine-year compulsory education has been popularized among 99.99% of the total population. Medium vocational education, senior middle school education, higher education and etc, are on the track of accelerated development. Besides, medical and health service has been improved, with the trial bases of new rural cooperative medical scheme expanded to 176 cities, counties and districts. The coverage rates of broadcast and television have stood at 96.2% and 97.3% respectively.
Our practice for the past ten years reveals that we can only gather the power for accelerating development by improving people s livelihood continuously which is the cornerstone of accelerated development.
We will prioritize the solution of the livelihood issues which are directly linked to people s interests and are greatly cared by them, including education, employment, medical treatment and health, housing, social security and so on.
Feng Xinghua, a 60-year-old man enjoying the five guarantees (food, clothing, medical care, housing and burial expenses guaranteed by the local government), has met the second spring of his life in the nursing house of Caiba Town, Cuiping District, city of Yibing. On the New Year s Day of 2009, he and Wang Yunfang had a grand wedding in the nursing house. The life here is much better than the life back at home, they said.
As an ancient Chinese proverb goes, We should honor the aged of other families as we honor our own. According to the statistics, in the year 2009, 655 nursing houses were established, reconstructed or extended, and 64394 new beds were set up, which had fulfilled the original target of the provincial Party Committee and provincial government by 163.75% and 160.99% respectively.
The construction of the nursing houses is only one of the 101 items of the Eight Projects for People s Well-being . With the economic development, the investment on people s livelihood has also increased. In the year 2009, 72.67 billion yuan were put into the projects for people s well-being in our province, which was a 33.2 billion increase than that in 2008. This year, the total intended investment on these projects reaches 78.26 billion yuan.
Education, employment, public health, housing improvement, social security and other hot issues have become the major tasks of improving people s livelihood. At the same time, more and more capital is spent on remote and ethnic groups inhabited areas as well as disadvantaged groups.
On February 19, 2009, the Sichuan Tibetan Herdsmen Settlement Program-New Life in Tents was officially launched. The province planned to invest 18 billion yuan in the next 4 years, to build over 1,400 settlements in 29 pastoral counties and to improve the living and production conditions of the 99,000 unsettled herdsmen and 480,000 people who only had crude residences.
Before that, many projects on the livelihood of the regions inhabited by ethnic groups have been launched, including the New Villages for Herdsmen, Poverty Alleviation Program, Keeping Children Away From Kaschin-Beck Disease Infected Areas, 10-Year-Plan for Education Development of Ethnic Regions, Prevention and Control of Kashin-Beck Disease and Echinococcosis. These projects have greatly improved people s living conditions.
The 10-Year-Plan for Education Development of Ethnic Regions in Sichuan Province and Education Program in Western Primary and Secondary Schools have been deepened during the development of the west regions. On September 1, 2009, Sichuan province launched a comprehensive Tibetan "9+3" Free Vocational Education Program (9 years of compulsory education plus three years of free secondary vocational education), offering "zero tuition" and "barrier-free entrance" secondary vocational education to about 10,000 students from Tibetan farmers and herdsmen families every year, to achieve one person succeeds, and the whole family is out of poverty.
A lot of efforts have been put into improving the people's livelihood, such as the reconstruction of the houses in regions inhabited by Yi ethnic group, the reconstruction of shanty towns, raising minimum subsidies for low-income families and families enjoying five guarantees, supporting students with financial difficulties and so on. Since 2000, 1.425 million absolutely poor people have been lifted out of poverty. Rural absolute poverty rate has dropped to 3.1% or below. The life quality of 5.295 million people with low-incomes has been improved.
The harder the time is, the more attention should be put into people s livelihood. People s livelihood has become the priority in post-quake reconstruction and dealing with the international financial crisis.
In May 2008, a massive earthquake hit Sichuan Province; then, the international financial crisis followed.
The harder the time is, the more attention should be put into people s livelihood. When facing the challenges, the provincial Party Committee and the provincial government hold a firm attitude and try the best to achieve the goals in The Overall Planning for the Post-Wenchuan Earthquake Restoration and Reconstruction, namely, every household has its own domicile with employed members, and each person has a secured living.
Today in the disaster-stricken areas, the farm houses are the most beautiful buildings, the schools are the most solid buildings, and the hospitals the most modern buildings. The process of post-quake restoration and reconstruction is a process of accelerating the improvement of people's livelihood. Projects concerning people's livelihood have been given priority by the party committees and governments of all levels.
By far, the construction of more than 1.5 million rural permanent houses in earthquake-stricken areas in Sichuan province has been completed; the reconstruction of 250,000 urban residents is almost completed; nearly 30,000 projects in the state overall planning have all started, the investment of which covers over 80% of the investment budget; the urban household per capita disposable income and rural household per capita net income of the 51 severely-affected counties have exceeded the levels before the earthquake.
A series of special policies have been made to promote the employment of the following five groups of people: returned migrant workers, college graduates, people in disaster-stricken areas, urban unemployed people in low-income families and people who recently lost their land and jobs. These policies include reducing the burden on enterprises, promoting the employment of returned migrant workers and stabilizing labor relations.
During the past two years, the provincial human resources and social security sectors allocated over 1.7 billion yuan special employment funds and over 700 million yuan unemployment insurance benefits to the stricken areas. More than 3.3 billion yuan social insurance fee has been reduced or retarded in order to achieve a stable employment situation.
Nearly 1.6 million people in stricken areas have got jobs with government's help. These measures have ensured that people in disaster-stricken areas have employment opportunities, income sources and secured living. In November 2009, the registered urban unemployment rate of the stricken areas dropped to less than 4% from its peak value 7.
5% in 2008.
During the past two years, 2516 worst-hit and severely-affected poor villages have been taken into the state and provincial overall planning for the post-Wenchuan earthquake restoration and reconstruction.
In 2009, 576 million special poverty relief funds were allocated to in the six worst-hit cities (prefectures) to carry out poverty relief projects by developing new villages, labor, industry, road building, and biogas; setting up mutual funds between poverty-stricken villages, and setting pilot project of prevention and control of Kashin-Beck Disease.
"People in stricken areas will not only have good houses to live in, but also lead a happy life." Nowadays, the promise of the provincial Party Committee and the provincial government is becoming a reality. In the stricken areas, people pull up a huge banner which reads Gratitude Towards the Party, Confidence Towards the Future, Promoting the Reconstruction and Development. United, people in Sichuan will take steps more solid and powerful on their way to accelerated development.
