Guo Xiaomin
Gao Li
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY PRIORITIES IN CHINA
Sustainable development has been accepted by more and more countries since UNCED in 1992. As early as 1983, China put forth the principle of concurrent planning. It is based on the the concurrent development of the economy and the environment. It involves the implementation and development of economic, urban and environmental construction and the corresponding benefits to the economy, society and environment. In China Agenda 21 , formulated by 52 ministries, departments and organizations in 1994, it stipulates that sustainable development is the necessary and only choice for the development of China for the future. Sustainable development is also clearly regarded as an important policy in the Ninth Year Plan for National Economy and Social Development and the Vision Guidelines for 2010 of the Peoples Republic of China which was promulgated in 1996. It is an important strategic measure to change the mode of economic growth from an extensive to an intensive one. Environmental protection goals have been implemented, as well as economic development goals. This shows that the Chinese government is working in a practical way to implement the sustainable development strategy.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: AN IMPORTANT TASK FOR THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
1) China is a developing country. Its first priority is to develop its economy. China must keep its GNP growth rate at a high level in order to improve the standard of living and guarantee people a certain income level;
2) China holds only seven per cent of the world's cultivated land and 22 per cent of the world's forested land. The development of agriculture plays a significant role for economic development in China. The Chinese government always pays great attention to the development of agriculture and regards agriculture as the basis of Chinese economic development;
3) China attaches great importance to changing the structure of industry and promoting the construction of infrastructure facilities and basic industries;
4) Many large countries, including China, experience regional disparity. China plans to develop the regions more equally through balanced economic distribution and by encouraging and supporting development in the eastern and mid-western regions.
STIMULATING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND IMPROVING EFFICIENCY
For a long time, Chinese economic development depended heavily on expanded production. This led to inefficient natural resource and energy use in the production process. In the Ninth-Year Plan (1996-2000), China will focus on shifting to economic growth, accelerated use of technology and intensive management skills. At the same time, China intends to protect its natural resources, reduce energy consumption and control pollution.
CONTROLLING POPULATION GROWTH
The development of society and economy must not only consider the needs of the existing population, but also the needs of future populations. Therefore, China must strictly control population and pay close attention to improving the quality of life for the population. China already has a huge population, and the amount of natural resources per capita is inadequate, so family planning has been regarded as a basic policy in China.
ALLEVIATING POVERTY AND IMPROVING SOCIAL WELFARE
There are many people living below the poverty line in China. This can lead to serious environmental destruction. The Chinese government is implementing policies to aid the poor. China would like to eliminate poverty by the year 2000. The goal of eliminating poverty is part of a far-reaching policy strategy to protect the environment in China.
The Chinese government will improve its social welfare systems step by step. The government would like to improve residential construction, develop a reason- able consumption pattern appropriate for the people of China, and steadily increase peoples standard of living. The goal is to develop a comfortable standard of living for all citizens by the year 2000.
DEVELOPMENT IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION
There is a wide gap between China and advanced countries in the area of science and technology. The depletion of natural resources, pollution and other forms of environmental degradation have been part of economic development in China. China must depend on science, technology and education to help carry out a sustainable development strategy.
China intends to accelerate development in the area of science and technology and actively develop new and higher forms of technology. It also intends to improve research in the basic sciences. It is anticipated that the level of technology in the main industries will be close to or at an advanced international level by the year 2000. China will also give priority to education. It will attach special importance to universal primary school education; increase professional education, and develop higher education to a reasonable level.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE
The number of cities and the urban population are increasing steadily in China. The lack of urban infrastructure is one of the major factors influencing peoples health and environmental quality. China will also speed up the construction of urban infrastructure from 1996 to 2000, with obvious improvements in tap water and natural gas linkages. The construction of urban housing and environmentally sound sewage and waste treatment plants will be accelerated. The development of a series of cities and towns in China has been authorized.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND POLLUTION CONTROL
One of the basic state policies in China is to protect the environment. Chinese sustainable development will be based on the sustainable use of natural resources. China intends to conserve its ecosystems and biological diversity, promote afforestation, and make every effort to solve important environmental problems such as desertification, water loss and soil erosion.
China will reinforce the control of industrial pollution, promote clean production, and shift waste treatment from end of pipe control to whole process control. Total load control of twelve major pollutants has been implemented in the major cities in China.
APPLICATION OF ISD IN CHINA
China attaches great importance to indicators to help guide economic, social and environmental development. Figure 1 illustrates the role of ISDs in Chinese decision-making processes. Many sustainable development indicators are in use as part of Chinese economic, social and environmental planning. Table 1 shows the major indicators used in China.