REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT
—— At the first meeting of the 13th National People’s Congress on March 5, 2018.
Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China
Delivered at the First Session of the 13th National People’s Congress of the
People’s Republic of China on March 5, 2018
Li Keqiang
Premier of the State Council
Delegates:
Fellow Deputies,
Now, on behalf of the State Council, I will report to the General Assembly on the government’s work in the past five years, put forward suggestions for this year’s work, please consider them, and invite Committee member Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference to give his opinions.
On behalf of the State Council, I will now report to you on the government’s work of the past five years and lay out what we propose for this year’s work for your deliberation and ap proval. I also invite comments from the members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
一、过去五年工作回顾
Review of our work over the past five years
第十二届全国人民代表大会第一次会议以来的五年，是我国发展进程中极不平凡的五年。面对极其错综复杂的国内外形势，以习近平同志为核心的党中央团结带领全国各族人民砥砺前行，统筹推进“五位一体”总体布局，协调推进“四个全面”战略布局，改革开放和社会主义现代化建设全面开创新局面。党的十九大确立了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的历史地位，制定了决胜全面建成小康社会、夺取新时代中国特色社会主义伟大胜利的宏伟蓝图和行动纲领，具有重大现实意义和深远历史意义。各地区各部门不断增强政治意识、大局意识、核心意识、看齐意识，深入贯彻落实新发展理念，“十二五”规划胜利完成，“十三五”规划顺利实施，经济社会发展取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革。
The five years since the first session of the 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) have been a truly remarkable five years in the course of our country’s development. Facing an extremely complex environment both at home and abroad, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has rallied and led the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to forge ahead. We have moved forward in a coordinated manner with the five-sphere integrated plan and the four-pronged comprehensive strategy, and made new advances on all fronts of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization. At its 19th National Congress, the Party established the position in history of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and mapped out an inspiring blueprint and a program of action for securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respec ts and for striving for the success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era. This is of great immediate significance and far-reaching h istorical significance. All regions and all government departments have strengthened their consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment. The new development philosophy has been thoroughly acted upon, the 12th Five-Year Plan has been successfully completed, and implementation of the 13th Five-Year Plan has seen smooth progress. In economic and social development we have made historic achievements and seen historic change.
Over the past five years, economic strength has leapt to a new level. The GDP has increased from 54 trillion yuan to 82.7 trillion yuan, with an average annual growth rate of 7.1%, and its share in the world economy has increased from 11.4% to about 15%, contributing more than 30% to the world economic growth. Fiscal revenue increased from 11.7 trillion yuan to 17.3 trillion yuan. Consumer prices rose by 1.9% annually, keeping a low level. More than 66 million new jobs have been created in cities and towns, and a large country with a population of more than 1.3 billion has achieved relatively full employment.
Over the past five years, economic strength has reached a new high.China’s gross domestic product (GDP) has risen from 54 trillion to 82.7 trillion yuan, registering average annual growth of 7.1 percent; and its share in the global economy has grown to roughly 15 percent, up from 11.4 percent. China’s contribution to global growth has exceeded 30 percent. Government revenue has increased from 11.7 trillion to 17.3 trilli on yuan. Consumer prices have risen at an average annual rate of 1.9 percent, maintaining a relatively low level of growth. More than 66 million new urban jobs have been added, and our country, with its population of over 1.3 billion, has achieved relatively full employment.
In the past five years, the economic structure has undergone major changes. The contribution rate of consumption increased from 54.9% to 58.8%, and the proportion of service industry increased from 45.3% to 51.6%, which became the main driving force of economic growth. The high-tech manufacturing industry grew by 11.7% annually. The grain production capacity reached 1.2 trillion Jin. The urbanization rate has increased from 52.6% to 58.5%, and more than 80 million agricultural migrants have become urban residents.
Over the past five years, the structure of the Chinese economy has seen a major transformation. With the share of the service sector rising from 45.3 to 51.6 percent of the eco nomy, consumption’s contribution to growth has increased from 54.9 to 58.8 percent, becoming the main driver of growth. High-tech manufacturing has achieved an average annual increase of 11.7 percent, and the annual grain yield has reached 600 million metric tons. China’s urbanization rate has risen from 52.6 to 58.5 percent, and more than 80 million people who have relocated from rural to urban areas have gained permanent urban residency.
In the past five years, innovation-driven development has achieved fruitful results. The total social R&D investment increased by 11% annually, ranking second in the world. The contribution rate of scientific and technological progress increased from 52.2% to 57.5%. Major innovations such as manned space flight, deep-sea exploration, quantum communication and large aircraft are constantly emerging. High-speed rail network, e-commerce, mobile payment and sharing economy lead the world trend. "internet plus" is widely integrated into all walks of life. Mass entrepreneurship and innovation have flourished, and the number of newly established enterprises per day has increased from more than 5,000 to more than 16,000. The rapid rise of new kinetic energy is reshaping the pattern of economic growth and profoundly changing the way of production and life, which has become a new symbol of China’s innovation and development.
Over the past five years, innovation-driven development has yielded fruitful outcomes. China’s investment in research and development (R&D) has grown at an average annual rate of 11 percent, ranking second in the world in scale. The contribution of technological advances to economic growth has risen from 52.2 to 57.5 percent. In manned spa ceflight, deep-water exploration, quantum communications, large aircraft development, and more, China has seen a stream of major outcomes of innovation. In high-speed rail, e-commerce, mobile payments, and the sharing economy, China is leading the world. The Internet Plus model has permeated many different fields and industries. Business startups and innovation are thriving all over the country, and the average number of new businesses opened daily has risen from over 5,000 to more than 16,000. Rapidly emerging new growth drivers are reshaping China’s growth model, are profoundly changing the way we live and work, and have become a new hallmark of China’s innovation-driven development.
In the past five years, great strides have been made in reform and opening up. The reform has been made in an all-round way, with multiple breakthroughs and in-depth advancement. Breakthroughs have been made in reforms in important areas and key links, and the main framework for reforms in major areas has been basically established. Reforms such as decentralization, combination of decentralization and management, and optimization of services have promoted profound changes in government functions, and market vitality and social creativity have been significantly enhanced. The construction of "the belt and road initiative" has achieved remarkable results, and the structure of foreign trade and utilization of foreign capital has been optimized and its scale has been among the highest in the world.
Over the past five years, significant headway has been made in reform and opening up.In reform, we have made strong moves across the board, secured major advances in many areas, and driven deeper in pursuing progress, making breakthroughs in reforms in important fields and at key links and seeing that in the main areas the general frameworks for reform are basically established. Reforms to streamline administration and delegate powers, improve regulation, and optimize services, have driven profound shifts in the functions of government, and significantly strengthened market dynamism and public creativity. Notable achievements have been made in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) . The composition of both Chinese foreign trade and foreign investment in China has been improved, with volumes ranking among the largest in the world.
Over the past five years, people’s lives have been continuously improved. Decisive progress has been made in tackling poverty. The number of poor people has decreased by more than 68 million, 8.3 million people have been relocated to help the poor, and the incidence of poverty has dropped from 10.2% to 3.1%. Residents’ income increased by 7.4% annually, exceeding the economic growth rate, forming the most populous middle-income group in the world. The number of outbound tourists has increased from 83 million to more than 130 million. Education has developed in an all-round way. Social endowment insurance covers more than 900 million people, and basic medical insurance covers 1.35 billion people, thus forming the largest social security network in the world. The average life expectancy is 76.7 years. More than 26 million shanty towns have been renovated, more than 17 million rural dilapidated houses have been renovated, and hundreds of millions of people have moved to new homes.
Over the past five years, living standards have been constantly improving.We have made decisive progress in the fight against poverty: More than 68 million people have been lif ted out of poverty, including a total of 8.3 million relocated from inhospitable areas, and the poverty headcount ratio has dropped from 10.2 to 3.1 percent. Personal income has increased by an annual average of 7.4 percent, outpacing economic growth and creating the world’s largest middle-income group. Tourist departures have grown from 83 million to over 130 million. Educ ation has seen all-around development. Social old-age pension schemes now cover more than 900 million people, and basic health insurance plans cover 1.35 billion people, forming the largest social safety net in the world. On average, life expectancy has reached 76.7 years. Over 26 million housing units have been rebuilt in rundown urban areas and more than 17 million dilapidated hou ses have been renovated in rural areas, with the result that more than one hundred million Chinese have moved into new homes.
Over the past five years, the ecological environment has gradually improved. Formulate and implement three "Ten Articles" for the prevention and control of air, water and soil pollution and achieve solid results. The energy consumption and water consumption per unit of GDP decreased by more than 20%, the discharge of major pollutants continued to decrease, the days of heavy pollution in key cities decreased by half, the forest area increased by 163 million mu, and the area of desertified land decreased by nearly 2,000 square kilometers annually, showing a gratifying situation in green development.
Over the past five years, the environment has seen gradual improvement.To address air, water, and soil pollution, we have designed and enforced a ten-point list of measures for each and achieved solid progress. Both energy and water consumption per unit of GDP hav e fallen more than 20 percent, the release of major pollutants has been consistently declining, and the number of days of heavy air pollution in key cities has fallen 50 percent. Forest coverage has increased by 10.87 million hectares, and the area of desertified land has been reduced by close to 2,000 square kilometers on average each year. Encouraging progress has been made in green development.
In the past 2017, the main objectives and tasks of economic and social development were fully completed and better than expected. The GDP increased by 6.9%, and the income of residents increased by 7.3%, both of which were faster than the previous year. There were 13.51 million new jobs in cities and towns, and the unemployment rate was the lowest for many years. Industrial growth picked up, and corporate profits increased by 21%; Fiscal revenue increased by 7.4%, reversing the slowdown in growth; Imports and exports increased by 14.2%, and the actually used foreign capital reached 136.3 billion US dollars, a record high. Economic development presents a good situation in which growth, quality, structure and benefit complement each other. This is the result of a series of major policy effects accumulated in the past five years, and unremitting efforts from all sides have been made for a long time.
In the year just passed, all main targets and tasks for economic and social development were accomplished and performance exceeded expectations. GDP grew 6.9 percent and perso nal income rose 7.3 percent, both beating the previous year’s growth rates. Around 13.51 million new urban jobs were created, and the jobless rate was at its lowest level in years. Industrial growth began to rebound, and corporate profits increased 21 percent. Government revenue grew 7.4 percent, reversing the slowdown in growth. The total import and export value rose 14.2 percent. Inward foreign investment reached 136.3 billion U.S. dollars, hitting a new all-time high.The state of play in the economy was good, with growth and quality, structural improvement, and performance each reinforcing the other. This is the result of the cumulative effect of a raft of major policies over the past five years and of consistent efforts in all areas of endeavor.
The all-round and pioneering achievements and deep-seated and fundamental changes in the past five years have once again attracted the attention of the world, and people of all ethnic groups across the country feel excited and proud.
The past five years have seen groundbreaking achievements on every front and profound and fundamental changes, attracting global attention and bringing all of us in China pride and inspiration.
五年来，我们认真贯彻以习近平同志为核心的党中央决策部署，主要做了以下工作。
Over the past five years, we have worked with dedication to implement the decisions and plans made by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. The following are the highlights of that work:
(1) Adhere to the general tone of striving for progress while maintaining stability, make efforts to innovate and improve macro-control, and keep the economic operation within a reasonable range to achieve stability and improvement. In recent years, the recovery of the world economy has been weak, the international financial market has been ups and downs, and protectionism has obviously risen. In China’s economic development, structural problems and deep-seated contradictions are prominent, the downward pressure on the economy continues to increase, and many dilemmas and difficult choices are encountered. Faced with this situation, we keep our strategic strength, insist on not engaging in "flood irrigation" strong stimulus, but adapt to grasp and lead the new normal of economic development, coordinate and stabilize growth, promote reform, adjust structure, benefit people’s livelihood, prevent risks, constantly innovate and improve macro-control, establish the ideas and methods of interval control, and strengthen directional control, camera control and precise control. It is clearly emphasized that as long as the economy operates in a reasonable range, employment increases, income increases, and the environment improves, we will concentrate on promoting reform, restructuring, and adding momentum. Take measures that benefit both the present and the long-term, focus on promoting supply-side structural reform, moderately expand aggregate demand, and promote a higher level of dynamic balance between supply and demand. Through hard work, we have withstood the downward pressure of the economy, avoided a "hard landing", maintained medium and high-speed economic growth, promoted structural optimization, and continuously consolidated and developed the long-term positive fundamentals of the economy.
First, with a commitment to the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, we have focused on developing new and better approaches to macro regulation, kept major indicators within an appropriate range, and achieved stable, positive economic performance.The past few years have witnessed anemic world economic recovery, volatility in global financial markets, and a sharp rise in protectionism. In China, structural issues and underlying problems have become more acute, downward pressure on the economy has continued to mount, and we have met with no small number of dilemmas.In facing this new environment, we have maintained strategic focus and refrained from resorting to a deluge of strong stimulus policies. Instead, we have adapted to, addressed, and steered the new normal in economic development, and taken coordinated steps to ensure steady growth, advance reform, make structural adjustments, improve living standards, and guard against risk. We have made fresh innovations in and refined macro regulation, developed the idea of and ways to achieve range-based regulation, and enhanced targeted, well-timed, and precision regulation.We have been clear that as long as the major economic indicators are within an acceptable range, with employment growing, incomes increasing, and the environment improving, then our energies should be focused on advancing reform, making structural adjustments, and adding growth drivers.We have adopted measures that are good for the near term and even better for the long term, made strong moves to advance supply-side structural reform, appropriately expanded aggregate demand, and worked for a dynamic equilibrium of supply and demand at a higher level.With grit and determination, we have overcome downward pressure on the economy, avoided a “hard landing,” maintained a medium-high growth rate, and promoted structural upgrading. The economic fundamentals that will sustain long-term growth have been cemented and enhanced.
Adhere to a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy. In the case of a large contradiction between fiscal revenue and expenditure, China took the lead in reducing taxes and fees significantly with a view to "releasing water to raise fish" and enhancing its stamina. The reform of business tax has been carried out step by step, ending the 66-year history of business tax collection, and the accumulated tax reduction has exceeded 2 trillion yuan. In addition, measures such as adopting tax incentives for small and micro enterprises and clearing various fees have reduced the burden on market players by more than 3 trillion yuan. Strengthen local government debt management, implement local government stock bond swap, and reduce the interest burden by 1.2 trillion yuan. Adjust the structure of fiscal expenditure, revitalize the deposited funds, and ensure the basic livelihood and key projects. The fiscal deficit ratio has been controlled within 3%. Monetary policy remained stable and neutral, M2 growth rate of broad money showed a downward trend, and the scale of credit and social financing increased moderately. We adopted differentiated policies such as targeted cuts to required reserve ratios and special refinancing, and strengthened support for key areas and weak links. The growth rate of loans for small and micro enterprises was higher than the average growth rate of various loans. Reform and improve the formation mechanism of exchange rate marketization, keep the RMB exchange rate basically stable, and turn foreign exchange reserves down to up. Properly deal with the abnormal fluctuations in financial markets such as "money shortage", standardize the order of financial markets, prevent and resolve risks in key areas, keep the bottom line of no systematic risks, and safeguard national economic and financial security.
We have continued to follow a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy. Despite a fairly big imbalance between government revenue and expe nditure, China has led the way in slashing taxes and fees with the aim of using accommodative measures to strengthen the basis for sustained growth. Step by st ep, we have extended the replacement of business tax with value added tax (VAT) to all sectors across the country, calling time on the 66-year history of business tax. The result so far has been a tax cut of more than 2 trillion yuan. We have also adopted measures l ike preferential tax policies for small low-profit businesses and an overhaul of different types of fees. All in all, our market entities have seen savings of more than 3 trillion yuan. We have strengthened management over local government debt, and issued local government bonds to replace outstanding debt, cutting interest liability by 1.2 trillion yuan. We have adjusted the structure of government expenditure, put idle funds to work, and ensured the spending for undertaking major projects and meeting basic public needs. The deficit-to-GDP ratio has been kept within 3 percent.Moneta ry policy has remained prudent and neutral. The M2 money supply growth rate has been trending downward, while credit and aggregate financing have seen moderate growth. Differentiated policies, such as targeted reserve requirement ratio cuts and targeted re-lending, have been adopted to strengthen support for key fields and weak links. The growth of loans to small and micro businesses has outstripped the average g rowth in lending. We have reformed and improved the market-based exchange rate mechanism and kept the RMB exchange rate basically stable; and foreign exchange reserves are now rising not falling. We have responded appropriately to abnormal market fluctuations such as the cash crunch, brought better order to the financial markets, prevented and defused risks in key sectors, forestalled systemic risk, and thus safeguarded China’s economic and financial security.
(2) Adhere to the supply-side structural reform as the main line, focus on cultivating and expanding new kinetic energy, and accelerate the optimization and upgrading of the economic structure. Rely on reform to solve the problems of economic development and structural imbalance, vigorously develop emerging industries, transform and upgrade traditional industries, and improve the quality and efficiency of the supply system.
Second, with a commitment to treating supply-side structural reform as our main task, we have focused on fostering new growth drivers and sped up economic structural upgrading.We have persevered in relying on reform to overcome economic difficulties and address structural imbalances, made a big push to foster emerging industries, overhauled and strengthened traditional industries, and improved the quality and performance of the supply system.
Solidly promote "three to one, one reduction and one supplement". In the past five years, on the basis of eliminating backward production capacity such as cement and flat glass, the central government has increased production capacity with emphasis on industries such as steel and coal, and the central government has arranged 100 billion yuan of special award funds to support it for diverting workers’ resettlement. Withdraw from steel production capacity of more than 170 million tons and coal production capacity of 800 million tons, and resettle more than 1.1 million employees. Due to the guidance of urban policy classification, the destocking of commercial housing in third-and fourth-tier cities has achieved remarkable results, and the price increase in hot cities has been controlled. Actively and steadily deleverage, control the debt scale, and increase equity financing. The asset-liability ratio of industrial enterprises continued to decline, and the increase in macro leverage ratio narrowed significantly, and the overall trend was stable. Take measures to reduce costs at the same time, reduce government fund projects by 30%, reduce enterprise-related fees set up by the central government by more than 60%, reduce the proportion of "five insurances and one fund" in stages, and promote the reduction of energy consumption, logistics and telecommunications costs. Highlight key points and increase efforts to make up short boards.
Solid work has moved us forward in the five priority tasks of cutting overcapacity, reducing excess inventory, deleveraging, lowering costs, and strengthening areas of weakness.Over the past five years, building on work to cut backward production capacity in the cement, plate glass, and other industries, we have intensified efforts to cut overcapacity, prioritizing industries such as steel and coal; and a 100-billion-yuan fund for rewards and subsidies has been put in place by the central government to support efforts to assist affected employees. We have cut steel production capacity by more than 170 million metric tons and coal production capacity by 800 million metric tons, and over 1.1 million affected employees have been assisted.Thanks to city-specific policies and category-specific guidance, clear progress has been made in reducing commercial residential housing inventory in third- and fourth-tier cities, and the growth of housing prices in the most popular cities has been brought under control.We have taken active and prudent steps to deleverage, control the scale of debts, and expand equity finance. The debt-to-asset ratio of industrial enterprises has been consistently declining. Macro leverage ratio is increasing by muc h smaller margins and is generally stable.We have used a combination of measures to bring down costs: 30 percent of government-managed funds and fees have been cut; over 60 percent of the fees and charges levied on businesses by the central government have been abolished; the ratio of enterprise contributions to old-age pension, medical insurance, unemployment insurance, and maternity insurance, workers’ compensation, and housing provident fund schemes has been reduced for the time being, and work has been done to lower energy, logistics, and telecommunications costs.And, with a focus on key issues, we have stepped up efforts to strengthen areas of weakness.
Accelerate the continuous transformation of new and old development kinetic energy. Carry out the "internet plus" campaign in depth, implement inclusive and prudent supervision, promote the wide application of big data, cloud computing and Internet of Things, vigorously develop emerging industries, and profoundly reshape traditional industries. Implement "Made in China 2025", promote major projects such as strong industrial base, intelligent manufacturing and green manufacturing, and accelerate the development of advanced manufacturing. The introduction of modern service industry reform and development measures, the emergence of new service formats and new models, promoted the integration and upgrading of various industries. Deepening the structural reform of agricultural supply side, a large number of new business entities have emerged, and the proportion of moderate scale operation of planting industry has increased from 30% to more than 40%. Take measures to increase the income of low-and middle-income people, promote the upgrading of traditional consumption and the rapid rise of emerging consumption. The online retail sales will increase by more than 30% annually, and the total retail sales of social consumer goods will increase by 11.3% annually. Optimize the investment structure, encourage private investment, give play to the role of government investment, and guide more funds to invest in areas that strengthen the foundation, increase the stamina and benefit the people’s livelihood. The operating mileage of high-speed railways has increased from more than 9,000 kilometers to 25,000 kilometers, accounting for two-thirds of the world’s total. The mileage of expressways has increased from 96,000 kilometers to 136,000 kilometers, 1.27 million kilometers of rural roads have been newly built and rebuilt, 46 new civil aviation airports have been built, 122 major water conservancy projects have been started, a new round of rural power grid transformation has been completed, and the world’s largest mobile broadband network has been built. In the past five years, the new kinetic energy for development has grown rapidly, and the realization of economic growth has shifted from relying mainly on investment and export to relying on the coordinated promotion of consumption, investment and export.From relying mainly on the secondary industry to relying on the three industries to jointly drive. This is a major structural change that we have been trying to achieve for many years.
We have sped up the replacement of old growth drivers.We have taken extensive action under the Internet Plus Initiative, exercised accommodative and prudential regulation, and promoted the extensive application of big data, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things; emerging industries have achieved vigorous growth, and traditional industries have undergone a thorough remodeling.Implementation of the Made in China 2025 initiative has brought progress in major proje cts like the building of robust industrial foundations, smart manufacturing, and green manufacturing, and has accelerated the development of advanced manufacturing.We unveiled reform and development measures to foster modern services; and this has led to a marked rise in new forms of business in the service sector and new service models as well as the integration and upgrading of mul tiple sectors.Deepened supply-side structural reform in agriculture has brought the emergence of a large number of new types of agribusiness. The share of appropriately scaled-up farming has increased from 30 to over 40 percent.We have taken measures to increase the incomes of those in low- and middle-income brackets, and helped to see an upgrading of traditional forms of consumption, and a boom in new forms of consumption. Online retail sales have been growing at an average annual rate of over 30 percent, and total retail sales of consumer goods have enjoyed an average annual increase of 11.3 percent.We have improved the composition of investment, encouraged private investment, used government investment to play a catalytic role, and guided more funding toward areas that strengthen the economic foundation, enhance sustainability, and improve people’s lives.China’s in-operation high-speed railways have grown from over 9,000 to 25,000 kilometers, accounting for two thirds of the world’s total. Our expressways have grown from 96,000 to 136, 000 kilometers. We have built or upgraded 1.27 million kilometers of rural roads, built 46 new civilian airports, and begun work on 122 major water conservancy projects. We have completed the latest round of rural power grid upgrading, and put in place the largest mobile broadband network in the world.Over the past five years, new growth drivers have rapidly grown in strength. Economic growth, in the past mainly driven by investment and exports, is now being fueled by consumption, investment, and exports. In the past dependent mainly on secondary industry, growth is now powered by a combination of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries. This is a major structural transformation that for years our sights had been set on but we were never able to achieve.
To promote the supply-side structural reform, we must break the barriers to market-oriented allocation of factors and reduce institutional transaction costs. In view of the long-standing problems of emphasizing examination and approval, neglecting supervision and weak service, we continued to deepen the "streamline administration, delegate power, strengthen regulation and improve services" reform, accelerated the transformation of government functions, reduced micro-management and direct intervention, and focused on strengthening macro-control, market supervision and public services. In the past five years, the administrative examination and approval items of the State Council departments have been reduced by 44%, the non-administrative licensing examination and approval has been completely ended, the enterprise investment projects approved by the central government have been reduced by 90%, the intermediary services of administrative examination and approval have been reduced by 74%, and the licensing and recognition of professional qualifications have been greatly reduced. Central government pricing projects were reduced by 80%, and local government pricing projects were reduced by more than 50%. We will comprehensively reform the commercial systems such as industrial and commercial registration and registered capital, and shorten the start-up time of enterprises by more than one third. Innovating and strengthening post-event supervision, implementing "double randomness and one openness", randomly selecting inspectors and inspection objects, and promptly publicizing the investigation results have improved the efficiency and fairness of supervision. Implement "Internet+government services" and one-stop services. The business environment has continued to improve, the market vitality has been significantly enhanced, and it is more convenient for the masses to do things.
Advancing supply-side structural reform demands removing barriers to the market-based allocation of the factors of production and reducing government-i mposed transaction costs.To address the longstanding issues of excessive emphasis on approval procedures, insufficient attention to regulatory processes, and a failure to provide strong services, we have been consistently deepening reforms to streamline administration, delegate powers, improve regulation, and strengthen services. We have sped up efforts to transform government functions, reduced micromanagement and direct intervention, and done more to improve macro regulation, market regulation, and public services.Over the past five years, the number of items subject to approval by State Council offices and departments has been slashed by 44 percent, the practice of non-administrative approval has been completely put to a stop, the number of business investment items subject to central government approval has been cut by 90 percent, intermediary services needed for obtaining government approval have been cut by 74 percent, and the requirements for professional qualification approval and accreditation have been significantly reduced. The number of items for which central government sets the prices has been cut back by 80 percent, and local government-priced items have been cut down by over 50 percent. Comprehensive reforms have swept the business system, including business registration and registered capital, reducing the time it takes to start a business by over a third.We have developed new and better ways of conducting compliance oversight, and introduced a new model of oversight combining randomly selected inspectors who inspect randomly selected entities and the prompt release of results . These efforts have made regulation more effective and impartial.We have rolled out the Internet Plus Government Services model and adopted measures s uch as the one-stop service model.Thanks to the above reforms, the business environment has consistently improved, the market is more energized, and people can access government services more easily.
(3) Adhere to innovation leading development, focus on stimulating social creativity, and significantly improve the overall innovation capability and efficiency. Implement the innovation-driven development strategy, optimize the innovation ecology, and form a multi-agent collaborative and all-round innovation situation. Expand the autonomy of scientific research institutions and universities, improve the management of scientific research projects and funds, and deepen the reform of the management of rights and interests of scientific and technological achievements. We will promote comprehensive innovation and reform experiments, support Beijing and Shanghai to build science and technology innovation centers, and set up 14 new national independent innovation demonstration zones to drive the formation of a number of regional innovation highlands. Strengthen the construction of technological innovation system with enterprises as the main body, and a number of innovative enterprises and new R&D institutions with international competitiveness have emerged. Carry out mass entrepreneurship and innovation in depth, implement inclusive support policies, and improve the incubation system. All kinds of market players reached more than 98 million households, an increase of more than 70% in five years. The number of effective invention patents in China has tripled, and the technology transaction volume has doubled. China’s scientific and technological innovation has shifted from following and running to more fields, and has become a hot spot for innovation and entrepreneurship in the world.
Third, with a commitment to innovation-driven development, and a focus on unlocking public creativity, we have achieved a remarkable overall improvement in innovation capacity and efficiency.We have put into action the innovation-driven development stra tegy and worked to build a better ecosystem for innovation, giving shape to innovation involving multiple actors making across-the-board advances.Research institutes and universities now have greater say over their research; research projects and funding are better managed, and the way that rights and interests relating to scientific and technological advances are managed has undergone reform.We have moved forward with pi loting comprehensive innovation reform, supported Beijing and Shanghai in building themselves into centers for scientific and technological innovation, and set up 14 new national innovation demonstration zones, thus creating a number of regional innovation hubs.We have boosted the development of a system for technological innovation in which enterprises are th e main actors. China has seen the emergence of a number of world-class innovative enterprises and new kinds of R& D institutions.We have launched and taken bold moves in the nationwide business startup and innovation initiative, adopted supportive policies designed to benefit all entrepreneurs and innovators, and improved incubation systems.China’s market entities, all types included, now total over 98 million, an increase of more than 70 percent over the past five years. The number of in-force Chinese invention patents issued in China has tripled, and the volume of technology transactions has doubled. In the global race of scientific and technological innovation, China has shifted place, from following others to keeping pace and even leading the pack in more and more areas. Our country has become a globally recognized fertile ground for innovation and business ventures.
(4) Insist on deepening reform in an all-round way, strive to get rid of the shortcomings of the system and mechanism, and continuously enhance the development momentum. The reform of state-owned assets and state-owned enterprises has been solidly promoted, the reform of corporate system has been basically completed, and positive progress has been made in mergers and acquisitions, reducing levels, improving quality and increasing efficiency. The benefits of state-owned enterprises have obviously improved, with profits increasing by 23.5% last year. Deepen reforms in the fields of energy, railways and salt industry. Relax the market access of non-public economy. Establish a unified registration system for real estate. Improve the property rights protection system. Significant progress has been made in fiscal and taxation reform. The fiscal budget and final accounts have been made public in an all-round way, the income distribution pattern between the central and local governments with sharing tax as the mainstay has been established, and the reform of the division of financial affairs and expenditure responsibilities between the central and local governments has been initiated. The scale of general transfer payments from the central to local governments has been greatly increased, and special transfer payments have been reduced by two-thirds. We will basically liberalize interest rate control, establish a deposit insurance system, promote large and medium-sized commercial banks to set up inclusive finance business units, deepen the reform of policy-oriented and development-oriented financial institutions, and strengthen the coordination mechanism of financial supervision. We will steadily push forward the comprehensive reform of education, improve the promotion mechanism for the balanced development of urban and rural compulsory education, and reform the examination enrollment system. Establish a unified basic old-age insurance and medical insurance system for urban and rural residents, and realize the merger of government agencies, institutions and enterprise old-age insurance systems. Introduce a plan to transfer some state-owned capital to enrich the social security fund. We will implement the linkage reform of medical care, medical insurance and medicine, comprehensively push forward the comprehensive reform of public hospitals, cancel the long-term drug addition policy, and make a breakthrough in the reform of the examination and approval system for drugs and medical devices. We will promote the reform of the separation of the "three powers" of rural contracted land, and the area of confirmation will exceed 80%.Reform the purchasing and storage system of important agricultural products. We will improve the system of main functional areas, establish a system of performance evaluation and accountability for ecological civilization, implement the system of river length and lake length, and carry out pilot reform of vertical management system of environmental protection institutions below the provincial level. The deepening of reforms in various fields has promoted sustained and healthy economic and social development.
Fourth, with a commitment to deepening reform across the board, we have taken major steps to remove institutional barriers, thus steadily boosting the driving forces powering development.Solid progress has been made in state capital and state-owned enterprise (SOE) reform; the reform to convert SOEs into standard companies has now basically been completed; and efforts to merge and restructure, reduce the organizational levels in, and improve the quality and efficiency of, SOEs have made good progress. The performance of SOEs has been much improved, with profits last year growing by 23.5 percent. We have deepened reform in sectors like energy, rail, and the salt industry.Market access to the non-public sector has been expanded. An integrated registration system for immovable property has been put in place, and the property rights protection system has been improved.Fiscal and tax reforms have made major progress. We have introduced the requirement nationw ide for government budgets and final accounts to be released to the public, developed a system based mainly on tax sharing for dividing revenue between central and local government, launched the reform to define the respective financial powers and expenditure responsibilities of central and local government, and significantly scaled up general transfer payments from central to local government, while also cutting by two thirds the number of items for which special purpose transfer payments are made.We have largely lifted controls on interest rates, established a deposit insurance system, encouraged large and medium commercial banks to set up inclusive finance divisions, deepened the reform of policy-backed and development financial institutions, and strengthened the mechanisms for coordinating financial regulation.We have made steady progress in the comprehensive reform of education, improved the mechanisms for promoting more balanced development of urban and rural compulsory education, and reformed the examination and enrollment systems.We have established unified basic pension and health insurance schemes for rural and non-working urban residents, and brought government office and public institution pension schemes into line with enterprise schemes. We have unveiled a plan for the appropriation o f a portion of state capital to replenish social security funds.We have carried out coordinated medical service, medical insurance, and pharmaceutical reforms. We have introduced comprehensive reform in all public hospitals, rescinded the longstanding policy of allowing hospitals to profit from higher priced medicine, and made breakthroughs in the reform of approval systems for medicine and medical devices.We have pursued reform to separate rural land ownership right s, contract rights, and use rights, and already seen over 80 percent of contracted rural land covered by this reform. We have reformed the system for purchasing and stockpiling important agricultural products.We have improved the functional zoning system, established performance evaluation and accountability systems for ecological conservation, and instituted the river chief and lake chief systems. We have piloted a system placing government environmental offices below the provincial level dir ectly under the supervision of provincial-level environmental offices.The deepening of reform in each and every field has given a boost to sustained, healthy economic and social development.
(5) Adhere to the basic national policy of opening to the outside world, strive to achieve win-win cooperation, and significantly improve the level of open economy. Advocate and promote the co-construction of "the belt and road initiative", initiate the establishment of the AIIB, set up the Silk Road Fund, and launch a number of major interconnection and economic and trade cooperation projects. Eleven pilot free trade zones have been set up in Shanghai and other provinces and cities, and a number of reform pilot results have been promoted nationwide. The reform of the export tax rebate burden mechanism and the tax rebate increment are all borne by the central government, and 13 cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zones have been set up. The "single window" of international trade covers the whole country, and the customs clearance time of goods has been shortened by more than half on average, and the import and export have stabilized and improved. Foreign investment changed from examination and approval system to negative list management, and restrictive measures were cut by two-thirds. The structure of foreign investment has been optimized, and the proportion of high-tech industries has doubled. Increase the introduction of intelligence, and the number of foreign experts working in China will increase by 40%. Guide the healthy development of foreign investment. Promote international capacity cooperation, and equipment such as high-speed rail and nuclear power will go global. Eight new free trade agreements were signed and upgraded. Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect and Bond Connect have been launched one after another, and the RMB has joined the IMF’s SDR currency basket, and the internationalization of the RMB has taken an important step. The expansion of China’s opening-up has effectively promoted its own development and brought great opportunities to the world.
Fifth, with a commitment to China’s fundamental policy of opening up, we have focused on promoting win-win cooperation, and significantly improved the performance of our country’s open economy.We have launched and worked with other countries in the Belt and Road Initiat ive. We initiated the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, set up the Silk Road Fund, and launched a number of major connectivity and economic and trade cooperation initiatives.Pilot free trade zones have been established in Shanghai and 10 other provinces and cities. A number of successful outcomes from pilot reforms are now being applied nationwide.We have reformed the cost-sharing mechanism for export tax rebates, and the central government now pays the full sum of increases in export tax rebates. We have set up 13 comprehensive experimental zones for cross-borde r e-commerce. Single-window document processing for international trade has been applied nationwide, cutting the average time for customs clearance by over half. Imports and exports have rebounded and steadily grown.For foreign investment, we have replaced the approval system with a negative list model, and have cut restrictions by two thirds. The composition of foreign investment has improved, with investment in high-tech industries doubling. We have intensified efforts to attract talent, and the number of foreign experts working in China has grown by 40 percent.We have guided the healthy development of outbound investment. We have move d forward with international cooperation on production capacity; high-speed rail, nuclear power, and other types of Chinese equipment have entered international markets. We have signed or upgraded eight free trade agreements. We have launched the S hanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect, and the Bond Connect. The RMB was included in the IMF’s Special Drawing Rights basket, representing a major step forward in its internationalization.China has opened its doors wider to the world. This opening has played a powerful role in our own development, and it presents important opportunities for the rest of the world.
(VI) Adhere to the strategy of coordinated regional development and new urbanization, strive to promote balanced development, and accelerate the growth of new growth poles. Actively promote the coordinated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, formulate and implement relevant plans, and build a number of key projects. A series of reform and innovation measures were introduced to promote the development of the western region, the revitalization of the northeast, the rise of the central region and the development of the eastern region. We will increase support for old revolutionary base areas, ethnic minority areas, border areas and poverty-stricken areas, and strengthen the work of aiding Tibet, Xinjiang and Qinghai. Marine protection and development have been promoted in an orderly manner. Implement the planning of key urban agglomerations to promote the coordinated development of large, medium and small cities and small towns. Most cities have relaxed restrictions on settlement, the residence permit system has been fully implemented, and urban basic public services have been covered by permanent residents. The coordination of urban and rural regional development has been significantly enhanced.
Sixth, with a commitment to implementing the coordinated regional development and new urbanization strategies, we have promoted more balanced development, and seen new growth poles and belts developing faster.We have actively pursued the coordinated development of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei, and the development of the Yangtze Economic Belt, drawn up and implemented related plans, and undertaken a number of key projects. We have unveiled a whole series of reforms and innovative measures to see the western region develop, northeast China revitalized, the central region rise, and the eastern region spearhead development. We have stepped up support for old revolutionary base areas, areas with large ethnic minority populations, border areas, and poor areas, and strengthened work to support Tibet, Xinjiang, and Qinghai. We have steadily moved forward with protecting and developing maritime resources.We have implemented plans for developing major city clust ers, and pursued more balanced development of small, medium, and large cities, and small towns. The vast majority of cities in China have eased restrictions on permanent residency. A residence card system has been put into effect nationwide, and basic urban public services now cover all permanent residents. Development between urban and rural areas and between regions has become better coordinated.
(seven) adhere to the people-centered development thinking, focus on safeguarding and improving people’s livelihood, and the people’s sense of gain has been continuously enhanced. In the case of financial constraints, we will continue to increase investment in people’s livelihood. We will comprehensively promote accurate poverty alleviation and poverty alleviation, improve the working mechanism of central planning, provincial overall responsibility, and implementation by cities and counties. The central government has invested more than 280 billion yuan in special poverty alleviation funds in five years. The implementation of a proactive employment policy has better guaranteed the employment of key groups. Adhere to the priority development of education, and the proportion of fiscal education funds to GDP continues to exceed 4%. Improve the conditions for running schools with weak compulsory education in rural areas and improve the treatment of rural teachers. The nutrition improvement plan has benefited more than 36 million rural students. Start the construction of world-class universities and disciplines. The number of students enrolled by key universities in rural and poverty-stricken areas has increased from 10,000 to 100,000. We increased financial assistance to students from poor families in various schools, benefiting 430 million people. The average length of education of the working-age population has increased to 10.5 years. The per capita financial subsidy standard for residents’ basic medical insurance has been raised from 240 yuan to 450 yuan. The serious illness insurance system has been basically established and has benefited more than 17 million people. The hospitalization expenses in different places have been directly settled, and the graded diagnosis and treatment and the construction of medical associations have been accelerated. Continuously and reasonably raise the basic pension for retirees. Improve the standards of subsistence allowances and special care, improve the social assistance system, and ensure the basic livelihood of nearly 60 million subsistence allowances and poor people. Establish a "two subsidies" system for people with difficulties and severe disabilities, benefiting more than 21 million people. Implement the universal two-child policy.Strengthen grassroots public cultural services and accelerate the development of cultural undertakings, and the cultural industry will grow at an average annual rate of more than 13%. National fitness has been widely carried out, and athletes have made great achievements.
Seventh, with a commitment to a people-centered development philosophy, we have endeavored to ensure and improve living standards, and the people are increasingly feeling the benefit.Despite fiscal constraints, we have consistently increased spending on improving people’s living standards. We have made comprehensive moves in targeted poverty reduction and all eviation, and built a robust working mechanism with central government responsible for overall planning, provincial-level governments assuming overall responsibility, and city and county governments responsible for program implementation. Over the past five years, the central government has appropriated over 280 billion yuan to fund poverty reduction.We have implemented a proactive employment policy and ensured that key target groups have better access to employment.We have been committed to prioritizing the development of education; and government spending on education has remained above four percent of GDP. In rural areas, we have improved conditions in badly built and poorly operated schools providing compulsory education, and increased the pay packages of teachers, and our Better Nutrition Plan has benefited more than 36 million students. We have launched an initiative to build world-class universities and world-c lass disciplines. The number of students from rural and poor areas enrolled in key universities through special programs has grown from 10,000 to 100, 000. We have increased financial aid to students from families in financial difficulty studying in all types of schools, giving out 430 million grants in total. The average length of schooling of the working-age population has been raised to 10.5 years.Government subsidie s for basic medical insurance schemes have been increased from 240 to 450 yuan per person; the serious disease insurance system is basically in place, and has already benefited more than 17 million people; the costs of hospitalization can now be settled where incurred; and the development of tiered medical diagnosis and treatment and healthcare consortiums has picked up pace.We have consistently made appropriate incre ases to basic old-age pensions for retirees. We have raised subsistence allowances, benefits for entitled groups, and other allowances, and improved the social assistance system, ensuring the livelihoods of close to 60 million people on subsistence allowances or living in extreme poverty. We have put in place a system to provide living allowances for people with disabilities in financial difficulty and nursing care subsidies for people with serious disabilities, a system that has benefited over 21 million people. All couples can now have two children.We have strengthened public cultural services at the communi ty level, moved faster to develop cultural programs, and seen the cultural industry grow at an average annual rate of over 13 percent. We have carried out Fitness-for-All programs, which are now in full swing; and Chinese athletes have excelled in competition.
(eight) adhere to the harmonious development between man and nature, focus on environmental pollution control, and achieve remarkable results in the construction of ecological civilization. Establish Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets concept, and strengthen ecological environment protection with unprecedented determination and strength. Heavy efforts were made to rectify air pollution, and the average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2．5) in key areas decreased by more than 30%. Strengthen loose coal treatment, promote energy conservation and emission reduction in key industries, and 71% of coal-fired power units achieve ultra-low emissions. Optimize the energy structure, the proportion of coal consumption decreased by 8.1 percentage points, and the proportion of clean energy consumption increased by 6.3 percentage points. Improve fuel quality and eliminate more than 20 million yellow-label cars and old cars. Strengthen the prevention and control of water pollution in key river basins, and achieve zero growth in the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. We will promote major ecological protection and restoration projects, expand returning farmland to forests, grasslands and wetlands, and strengthen comprehensive control of desertification, rocky desertification and soil erosion. Carry out central environmental protection inspectors, seriously investigate and deal with illegal cases, and strengthen accountability. Actively promote the signing and entry into force of the Paris Agreement, and China has played an important role in coping with global climate change.
Eighth, with a commitment to achieving harmony between human and nature, we have taken major steps to address pollution, and achieved notable progress in ecological conservation.We have established the notion that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets and acted with resolve and intensity as never before to strengthen environmental protection.We have struck out hard against air pollution, thus achieving a drop of over 30 percent in the average density of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in key areas. We have done more to reduce the use of low quality coal, pushed for progress in energy conservation and emission reductions in key industries, and seen 71 percent of coal-fired power plants achieving ultra-low emissions. We have improved the energy mix, cutting the share of coal consumption by 8.1 percentage points and increasing the share of clean energy consumption by 6.3 percentage points. We have improved fuel quality, and taken over 20 million high-emission and old vehicles off the roads.We have strengthened prevention and control measures against water pollution in key drainage basins and sea areas, and achieved zero growth in chemical fertilizer and pesticide use. We have pursued major ecological conservation and restoration projects, expanded the coverage of initiatives to turn marginal farmland into forest, grassland, and wetlands, and intensified comprehensive efforts to curb desertification, rock desertification, and soil erosion.We have launched central government inspections on environmental protection, investigated and prosecuted cases involving legal violations, and strengthened accountability. We worked toward and saw that the Paris Agreement was put into force; China has played an important role in responding to global climate change.
(nine) adhere to the full implementation of government functions in accordance with the law, focus on strengthening and innovating social governance, and maintain social harmony and stability. The National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) was requested to formulate and revise 95 laws, 195 administrative regulations and a large number of departmental regulations. Provincial, municipal and county government departments shall formulate and publish the list of powers and responsibilities. We will carry out general inspections and special inspections in the State Council, commend and encourage those who are active and have achieved outstanding results, and hold serious accountability for inaction. Innovate urban and rural grassroots governance. Improve the system of letters and visits. Expand the scope of legal aid. Promote the reform and development in the field of safety production, and the total number of accidents and the number of serious accidents continue to decline. Reform and improve food and drug supervision and strengthen the whole process of risk control. Strengthen disaster prevention, mitigation and relief work such as earthquakes and catastrophic floods, and improve the emergency mechanism of graded responsibility and mutual coordination, thus minimizing disaster losses. Strengthen national security. We improved the prevention and control system of public security, cracked down on all kinds of illegal crimes according to law, and effectively safeguarded public safety.
Ninth, with a commitment to fully performing government functions in accordance with law, we have focused on enhancing and making innovations in social governance, and ensured social harmony and stability.We have submitted proposals to the NPC Standing Committee on formulating or revising 95 laws, formulated or revised 195 sets of administrative regulations, and revised or rescinded a large number of government department regulations. Lists of powers and obligations have been formulated and released by prov incial, city, and county government departments. We have introduced State Council accountability inspections and special inspections, and commended and created policy incentives for those working proactively and doing an outstanding job, while holding strictly to account those failing to fulfill their duties.We have been making innovations in urban and rural primary level governance. Th e system for handling public complaints has been improved. The coverage of legal aid has been expanded. We have promoted reform and improvements in workplace safety, and seen a continued drop in both the total number of accidents and the number of serious and major accidents. We have reformed and improved food and d rug regulation and strengthened risk control over all related processes.We have strengthened work on preventing, reducing, and providing relief for disasters, including earthquakes and serious flooding, and built stronger emergency response mechanisms employing a division of responsibilities between levels and close coordination. With this we have mini mized the damage and loss inflicted by disasters to the greatest possible extent.China’s national security is better safeguarded. We have improved the crime prevention and control system, worked in accordance with law to hit back against all types of crime and illegal behavior, and effectively safeguarded public security.
We will implement the Party Central Committee’s plan to strictly manage the Party in an all-round way, and strengthen the building of a clean and honest party style and the fight against corruption. In-depth development of the party’s mass line education practice activities, "three strictness and three realities" special education, "two studies and one work" study and education, conscientiously implement the spirit of the eight provisions of the CPC Central Committee, persistently correct the "four winds", and strictly implement the State Council’s "Three Chapters of the Constitution". Strictly control the total number of newly built government buildings, halls and financial support personnel, and the funds for the "three public" have been greatly reduced. Strengthen administrative supervision and audit supervision. Resolutely investigate and correct violations of laws and regulations, severely punish corrupt elements, and the overwhelming situation of the anti-corruption struggle has been formed and consolidated.
We have implemented the Party Central Committee’s decisions on exercising full and strict Party self-governance and done more to improve Party conduct, build a clean government, and fight corruption. We have taken extensive action in raising awareness of and putting into practice the Party’s mass line, in the Three Stricts and Three Earnests campaign, and in the drive to see that Party members develop a good understanding of the Party Constitution, Party regulations, and General Secretary Xi Jinping’s major policy addresses and live up to Party standards. We have worked hard to ensure compliance with the Central Committee’s eight-point decision on improving conduct and staying engaged with the people and worked nonstop to address the practice of formalities for formalities’ sake, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance. We have strictly enforced the three-point State Council decision on curbing government spending.We have enforced strict controls over the construction of new government buildings and over the total number of people on the government payroll; and spending on official overseas visits, official vehicles, and official hospitality has been significantly reduced.We have strengthened government supervision and auditing-based oversight. We have taken strong steps to investigate, prosecute, and address violations of laws and regulations and severely punished those who have committed corruption. This anti-corruption campaign has built into a crushing tide, and is being consolidated and developed.
各位代表！
Fellow Deputies,
In the past five years, innovations have been made in ethnic, religious and overseas Chinese affairs. We supported the accelerated development of ethnic areas and made great progress in the cause of national unity and progress. Actively guide religion to adapt to socialist society. Overseas Chinese and returned overseas Chinese and their relatives have made unique contributions to the country’s modernization.
Over the past five years, we have made new improvements in work related to ethnic groups, religion, and overseas Chinese nationals. We have supported faster development in areas with large ethnic minority populations, and have seen efforts to promote ethnic unity and progress truly paying off. We have actively guided religions in adapting to socialist society. Overs eas Chinese nationals, Chinese nationals who have returned from overseas, and the relatives of overseas Chinese nationals who reside in China have made their own unique contributions to the country’s modernization.
In the past five years, under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, strengthening the army and rejuvenating it has created a new situation. Formulate the military strategic policy under the new situation, hold the Gutian Army Political Work Conference, further promote the political building of the army, reform and strengthen the army, develop the army through science and technology, and govern the army according to law, so that the people’s army can reshape its political ecology, organizational form, power system and style image. Effectively carry out major tasks such as maritime rights protection, anti-terrorism, stability, emergency rescue and disaster relief, international peacekeeping, escort in the Gulf of Aden, and humanitarian relief. All parties cooperated to basically complete the task of reducing the number of military personnel by 300 thousand. The modernization level of military equipment has been significantly improved, and integration of defense and civilian technologies has developed in depth. The army, the government and the people are closely United. The people’s army has taken on a new look, and has made solid progress on the road of strengthening the army with China characteristics.
Over the past five years, under the leadership of the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, we have embarked on a new stage in strengthening and energizing the armed forces. We have developed a military strategy for new conditions; convened the Gutian military political work meeting; and taken extensive steps to see that the armed forces are built on political loyalty, strengthened through reform and technology, and run in accordance with law. As a result, our people’s armed forces have achieved a remodeling of their political ecosystem, of the way they are organized, of the structure of their forces, and of their conduct and image.We have undertaken major missions involving the protection of maritime rights, countering terrorism and maintaining stability, disaster rescue and relief, international peacekeeping, escort services in the Gulf of Aden, and humanitarian rescue. With the cooperation of all involved, we have basically completed the task of reducing military personnel by 300, 000. Military equipment has been significantly modernized and military-civilian integration has been deepened. We have seen closer unity between the mi litary and government and between the military and the people. The people’s armed forces, full of new drive, have taken solid strides toward building themselves into a powerful military with Chinese characteristics.
In the past five years, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan have made new progress in their work. The practice of "one country, two systems" has been continuously enriched and developed, the authority of the Constitution and the Basic Law has been further highlighted in Hong Kong and Macao, exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao have been further promoted, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has been fully connected, and Hong Kong and Macao have maintained prosperity and stability. Adhere to the one-China principle and the "1992 Consensus", strengthen cross-strait economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation, and realize the historic meeting between leaders of the two sides. Resolutely opposing and containing the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces has effectively safeguarded peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Over the past five years, fresh progress has been made in work related to Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. The practice of “one country, two systems” has been consistently enriched and developed; the authority of China’s Constitution and the basic laws has become more evident in Hong Kong and Macao. Exchanges and cooperation between the mainlan d and Hong Kong and Macao have been steadily enhanced; the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has been completed, and Hong Kong and Macao have thrived and remained stable.We have upheld the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, strengthened cross-Strait economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation, and held a historic meeting between the leaders of the two sides. We have resolutely opposed and deterred separatist forces advocating Taiwan independ ence, firmly safeguarding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
过去五年，中国特色大国外交全面推进。成功举办首届“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛、亚太经济合作组织领导人非正式会议、二十国集团领导人杭州峰会、金砖国家领导人厦门会晤等重大主场外交。习近平主席等国家领导人出访多国，出席联合国系列峰会、气候变化大会、世界经济论坛、东亚合作领导人系列会议等重大活动，全方位外交布局深入展开。倡导构建人类命运共同体，为全球治理体系变革贡献更多中国智慧。经济外交、人文交流卓有成效。坚定维护国家主权和海洋权益。中国作为负责任大国，在解决国际和地区热点问题上发挥了重要建设性作用，为世界和平与发展作出新的重大贡献。
Over the past five years, we have pursued distinctively Chinese major country diplomacy on all fronts. We successfully hosted the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders Meeting, the G20 Hangzhou Summit, the BRICS Xiamen Summit, and other major diplomatic events in China.President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders have visited many countries and attended major events including the United Nations summits, the Climate Change Conferences, World Economic Forum meetings, and the East Asian Leaders Meetings on Cooperation. China’s diplomatic agenda has been further advanced on every front.China has called for building a community with a shared future for humanity and has contributed more Chinese ideas to the reform of the global governance system. Notable achievements have been made in our country’s economic diplomacy and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. We have been resolute in upholding China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. As a responsible major country, China has played a constructive role in addressing international and regional hotspot issues, thus making significant new contributions to global peace and development.
各位代表！
Fellow Deputies,
回顾过去五年，诸多矛盾交织叠加，各种风险挑战接踵而至，国内外很多情况是改革开放以来没有碰到过的，我国改革发展成就实属来之不易。这是以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导的结果，是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学指引的结果，是全党全军全国各族人民团结奋斗的结果。我代表国务院，向全国各族人民，向各民主党派、各人民团体和各界人士，表示诚挚感谢！向香港特别行政区同胞、澳门特别行政区同胞、台湾同胞和海外侨胞，表示诚挚感谢！向关心和支持中国现代化建设的各国政府、国际组织和各国朋友，表示诚挚感谢！
Looking back on the past five years, we have encountered a great many interwoven problems and a stream of risks and challenges. Both at home and abroad, there have been many new developments, developments that we have not faced since reform and opening up began. The achievements we have made in China’s reform and development have certainly not come easily. We owe them to the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, to the sound guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and to the concerted efforts of the Party, the military, and the people of all our nation’s ethnic groups.On behalf of the State Council, I wish to express sincere thanks to the people of all our ethnic groups, and to all other political parties, people’s organizations, and public figures from all sectors of society. I express our sincere appreciation to our fellow countrymen and women in the Hong Kong and Macao specia l administrative regions, in Taiwan, and overseas. I also wish to express our sincere thanks to the governments of other countries, international organizations, and friends from all over the world who have shown understanding and support for China in its endeavor to modernize.
Never forget danger in peace, never forget worry in prosperity. We are soberly aware that China is still in the primary stage of socialism and will be in it for a long time, and it is still the largest developing country in the world, and some outstanding problems of insufficient development imbalance have not been solved. The endogenous motivation of economic growth is not enough, the innovation ability is not strong enough, the quality and efficiency of development are not high enough, some enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, have difficulties in operating, the growth of private investment is weak, the downward pressure on the economy in some areas is great, and potential risks in financial and other fields cannot be ignored. The task of tackling poverty is arduous, the foundation of agriculture and rural areas is still weak, and the gap between urban and rural regional development and income distribution is still large. Serious production safety accidents occur from time to time. There are still many places where people are dissatisfied with air quality, environmental sanitation, food and drug safety, housing, education, medical care, employment and old-age care. The transformation of government functions is still not in place. There are some shortcomings in government work, some reform measures and policies are not implemented effectively, some cadres have a weak sense of service and rule of law, their work style is not true, their sense of responsibility is not enough, and formalism and bureaucracy exist to varying degrees. The masses and enterprises have many opinions on the difficulty of handling affairs and arbitrary charges. Unhealthy practices and corruption in some areas are still frequent. We must do our best to do a good job in the spirit of being highly responsible to the country and the people, with courage and perseverance, so that the people’s government will live up to the people’s trust!
As the Chinese saying goes, when all is calm forget not danger; when all is well be awake to woes. We are keenly aware that China is still in the primary stage of socialism and will remain so for a long time to come , that it remains the largest developing country in the world, and that it faces a number of acute problems caused by unbalanced and inadequate development that so far remain unsolved.The internal forces powering economic growth are not yet sufficient, China’s ability to innovate needs to be stronger, and the quality and performance of development need to be improved. Some enterprises, particularly small and medium ones, are finding it tough going. Growth in private investment is weak; some regions still face considerable downward economic pressure, and risks and potential dangers in the financial and other sectors are not to be ignored.Poverty alleviation remains a formidable task; the foundations of agriculture and rural infrastructure remain weak, and the disparities in development between rural and urban areas, between regions, and in income distribution remain substantial. Serious and major workplace accidents happen all too often. People still have a lot of complaints about air quality, environmental sanitation, food and drug safety, housing, education, healthcare, employment, and elderly care.The transformation of government functions is not yet where it should be. In the work of government there are areas where we fall shor t. Some reform measures and policies have not been fully implemented. Some officials are weak on awareness that they are there to serve and must uphold the rule of law, and some lack commitment to their work and willingness to bear the weight of responsibility. Bureaucratism and the practice of formalities for formalit ies’ sake exist to varying degrees. There are many complaints from the people and the business sector about the difficulty of accessing government serv ices and the excessive array of charges. In some sectors misconduct and corruption are still a common problem.With a deep sense of responsibility to our country and people, with courage in the face of adversity, and with determination that won’t be broken, we must give our work all we’ve got, to make sure that the people’s government does not let the people down.