China: Reform and Opening up deepened, standards of living rose

Published: March 09,2023

By Staff writer 

On March 5, 2023 Li Keqiang Premier of the State Council delivered at the First Session of the 14th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China a review of the government work report that comprised achievements in the past five years. 

Premier Li said that reform and opening up were deepened across the board in an effort to create a new pattern of development.  He further informed that supply-side structural reform and reforms to streamline government administration were promoted, improvedregulation, and upgraded services. 

“Joint efforts to advance the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) made solid headway. China played its part for the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, which has created the world’s largest free trade zone. China’s total volume of trade in goods exceeded 40 trillion yuan, registering an annual growth rate of 8.6 percent. It has thus been the top global trader for many years running. China is now both a major destination for foreign investment and a leading global outbound investor,”according to the government work report.  

The government work report also highlighted that the living standards of the Chinese people rose steadily where personal incomes grew in accordance with the general economic growth. Social protection services like insurance for the old age also improved significantly covering 1.05billion people, an increase of 140 million over the past five years. 

“Basic medical insurance saw steady improvement. Over the past decade, we have rebuilt more than 42 million housing units in run-down urban areas, and over 100 million people have moved into new apartments. After many years of meticulous preparation, we successfully presented the world with streamlined, safe, and splendid 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, thus making great contributions to promoting the Olympic movement as well as solidarity and friendship among the peoples of all countries. Since Covid-19 struck more than three years ago, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has placed the people and their lives above all else. It has boosted supplies of medical resources and materials, made every effort to ensure treatment for all patients, effectively safeguarded our people’s health and safety, and improved and adjusted response policies and measures in light of changing conditions. The Chinese people have pulled through with fortitude and resilience and secured a major and decisive victory in the fight against Covid-19”, the government work report says. 

Premier Li also noted that the achievements in the last five years came as a result of hard work and coordination between individuals, local authorities, departments and organizations.