Zhang Gaoli attends the 2nd “Understanding China” Conference

    The 2nd “Understanding China” Conference was held in Beijing on November 1. Zhang Gaoli, Vice Premier of the State Council and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, attended the opening ceremony. (Photo by Zhao Di with the China Youth Daily)

    Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, November 1 (Correspondent: Liu Hua) The 2nd “Understanding China” Conference was held in Beijing on November 1. Zhang Gaoli, Vice Premier of the State Council and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.

    Zhang says that it is very important for the world and China get aware of each other by gathering a group of internationally renowned politicians, entrepreneurs, experts and scholars here today to exchange information and share ideas, bringing more China voice to the world. According to him, the Recommendations for 13th Five-year Plan for Economic and Social Development adopted at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee depicts a grand blueprint for development in the coming five years, which proposes the guidelines, main objectives, key tasks and major initiatives in the decisive stage of building a moderately prosperous society focused on the strategic layout of "four comprehensives," holding high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics while internalizing the series of important lectures of General Secretary Xi Jinping. During the 13th Five-year period, we will adhere to innovation-oriented development, address the forces that drive growth, and promote economic growth towards the high-end level with the growth rate remaining at a moderate to fast speed; we will stick to coordinated development, mitigate uneven development, and strive to enhance holistic development; We will bear in mind green development, keep man and nature in harmony, and build a beautiful China with a blue sky, green land and clear water; We will cling to open development, focus on (interactions between home and abroad) both domestic and international markets, and further enhance the open economy; We will insist on shared development, emphasize social justice, constantly contribute to the welfare of the people, and create a new profile of China's economic and social development. Deepening reform comprehensively is a key aspect of groundbreaking and pioneering significance in the strategic layout of the "four comprehensives." We will proceed with market economic reform and introduce some intensive, concrete reform programs, make breakthroughs in reform affecting the general layout, and develop an institutional system where the market plays a decisive role in the allocation of resources and gives a better play to the role of government, providing ever-renewed impetus for development.

    According to Zhang, this year China's economy has been operating in a rational range, being better-structured with improved quality and efficiency. Although the downward pressure is looming near, the Chinese economy is resilient with great potential and margin for maneuver. The fundamentals for long-term economic development have not changed. We will stress development as the top priority, follow the basic principle of making progress while maintaining stability in our work, get centered on improving the quality and efficiency of economic development, maintain the coherence and stability of macroeconomic policies, and increase directional control efforts based on interval regulation, with timely pre-tuning and fine-tuning. We will make an overall plan to maintain economic growth, drive forward the reform process, restructure the industries, improve the livelihood of the people and prevent risks. To this end, we shall make breakthroughs in optimizing the industrial structure, enhancing the power to generate growth, making up for the deficiencies and resolving contradictions arising therefrom. All parties concerned should be mobilized for sustainable and healthy economic and social development to ensure the timely completion of building a well-off society in an all-round way, and we must be dedicated to China’s first centennial goal and the Chinese dream of great rejuvenation.

    The Conference was co-sponsored by CIIDS, CPIFA, Beijing Municipal People's Government and 21st Century Council. Over 40 former dignitaries, strategists and business leaders from around the world attend the Conference.

    Guo Jinlong, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and member of the Committee of the Political Bureau, attended the opening ceremony.