As organized by the Standing Committee of Beijing Municipal People's Congress, over 300 deputies of Beijing municipal People's Congress and Beijing's deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) conducted a two-day inspection in Beijing on its economy, city construction, science and education, rural areas and politics and law.

On behalf of the municipal government, vice mayor Zhai Hongxiang delivered on December 13 a report on Beijing's economic and social development in 2004 and that on the amendment of the city's overall planning.

Zhai especially introduced to the deputies five major characteristics of Beijing's economic and social development throughout the year.

The economic growth improved in both quality and effect. Industries were turning towards a coordinative development, the second and tertiary industries realized simultaneous growth and diversified growth patterns in the industrial sector took form. The six industries, i.e. electronics and information, automobile, petrochemical new material, equipment manufacturing, biomedicine and urban industry, contributed the most to the growth in the industrial sector; positive effects of the macro-controls have emerged.

Investment growth has seen a marked slowdown and credits and lending shrank sharply, achievement was made in regularizing the land market, the overall level of prices was maintained stable; weak parts in the economic and social development got boosted.

More capital started to flow into the suburban areas, which also received more policy support, the three agriculture-related issues were improved, city transport and environmental construction were sped up; reforms in key fields deepened.

Important breakthrough was realized in the reform of investment and financing system, reforms were pushed steadily in state-owned enterprises, reform in social work has been initiated, governments further shifted their functions; capability to adjust economic operation and public services was enhanced.

Coal reserve mechanism entered its initial stage, which paved way for establishing the system of the capital's coal consumption and reserve of energy resources. "Express way" in railway transportation was built to firstly ensuring the delivery of grain, coal, finished oil and chemical fertilizer, which are badly needed.

Talking about Beijing's economic and social development in 2004, Zhai said the situation of employment and social security remains stable this year and employment is better than last year, the number of people covered by aids rose continually and the municipal government launched the program of categorized subsistence allowances.

By People's Daily Online