Chinese Premier Discusses Water, Environment Issues With Gansu Deputies
Text of report by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency)
["Authorized Release for the Two Sessions" by reporters Zhao Cheng and Song Changqing: "Four Things That Wen Jiabao Keeps Thinking About"]
Beijing, 6 Mar (Xinhua) – In the morning of 6 March, Wen Jiabao, the Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the CCP Central Committee and premier of the State Council who had just finished delivering a government work report yesterday, arrived at the Gansu Room at the Great Hall of the People to carry out deliberations together with deputies from the Gansu delegation – a delegation to which he belongs – to the First Session of the 11th National People’s Congress [NPC].
Wen Jiabao has served as an NPC deputy of the Gansu delegation for four consecutive terms. He said with deep feeling as soon as he was seated, “I am home! I cannot forget Qilian Mountain and the Gobi Desert, Yellow River [Huang He], Hei He River, Shiyang River, and Huyang Forest, and much less can I forget the common people of Gansu.” The deputies applauded to express their welcome and joy when they saw the premier.
On 6 March last year, Wen Jiabao talked about four things that he kept thinking about when he took part in a deliberation conducted by the Gansu delegation: The effort to bring the desertification of Minqin under control, the protection of the Dunhuang ecological environment and cultural heritage, the protection of the glacier in Qilian Mountain, and the effort to bring under control the desertification, salinization, and alkalinization of the Hei He River and Shiyang River. Deputy Xu Shousheng, governor of Gansu Province, told the premier that very good progress has been made in these four things.
“The Gansu people have accomplished a few major deeds. Every year, several hundred million cubic meters of water are diverted from the Hei He River to Alxa in Inner Mongolia, giving Juyanhai [Gaxun Nuur] water and also making a lake appear. This is not easy!” Wen Jiabao said, “We have also harnessed the Shiyang River and eventually started the Yintao [Water Supply] Project after half a century of deliberation. These projects can ease water utility problems, but the crucial thing is that we should rely on water conservation. Gansu should become the national model province in water conservation.”
Deputy Zhang Xusheng, secretary of the Wuwei City party committee, worked out the account for water-conservation, ecology, and economic items with regard to the effort to bring desertification under control in Minqin. Wen Jiabao said: Do not let Minqin become the second Luobubo. This is not an issue that concerns only the area of Minqin but this expresses even more so the determination and will of the state to improve the ecological environment. Wen Jiabao also reminded everyone: In the past, water in the Hexi Corridor flowed in a dispersed manner and formed oases. Now, the water has been concentrated in one place, cement ditches have been built, and there is no water in the surrounding areas. You should pay attention to and observe this matter to see weather it causes desertification.
Deputy Liu Dajiang, director of the Potato Sales Association of Anding District in Dingxi City, said: Dingxi has water shortages but potato can withstand aridity, and aridity has compelled the development of our potato industry. Presently over here, the planted area of potato exceeds the sown area of grain. Our potatoes are sold in all parts of the country and are also sold faraway to Southeast Asia and the Middle East, becoming a piece of treasure that brings wealth to the peasants. Wen Jiabao said, “I am very interested in the issue of potatoes in the Dingxi area. Small potatoes being turned into a big industry and put into great use! First, Dingxi’s potatoes are big, and second, they have very few eyes, which make them very suitable for French fries. You all should effectively develop them.”
In his speech, deputy Zhou Xuhong, president of Lanzhou University, broached the issues of increasing investments, the rational allocation of educational resources, and overcoming the drain in teaching staff. Wen Jiabao took notes in a serious manner and exhorted him to run Lanzhou University well.
After hearing everyone’s speech, Wen Jiabao said: There are still a lot of things concerning Gansu that I keep thinking about. This year I will again talk about four things. First, I keep thinking about the structural adjustment of Gansu’s economy. It is necessary to change the state of an overemphasis in structure and a single form of ownership and to attach importance to the development of industries with distinctive features, particularly agricultural and grain production. Gansu’s greatest asset is its resources, and there are many industries with distinctive features that it can develop. Second, I keep thinking about improvement in the ecological environment. Gansu’s inferiority lies in its water shortages and in particular should attach importance to the protection of water resources and the ecological environment. Third, I keep thinking about the development of social undertakings, particularly the development of educational, health, and cultural undertakings. Fourth, I keep thinking about the livelihoods of the Gansu people, particularly the livelihoods of people in ethnic minority and impoverished areas. I sincerely hope that after five years of hard work, the per capita net income of peasants and herdsmen in Gansu will reach the present national average level.
Originally published by Xinhua news agency domestic service, Beijing, in Chinese 1523 6 Mar 08.
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