China's economic and social development plan for 2004 was implemented satisfactorily by and large as outstanding economic problems were alleviated, negative, destabilizing factors held in check and national economy continued its excellent trend of rapid growth, good performance and strong vitality.

These achievements are listed in the report on the implementation of the 2004 plan for national economic and social development and on the 2005 draft plan for national economic and social development, done by the National Development and Reform Commission. The report has been submitted to the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), which opened Saturday, to be examined and approved by the NPC deputies.

The report cites the major indices in the national economic and social development in 2004. According to the report, China's GDP reached 13.6515 trillion yuan in 2004, representing a year-on-year rise of 9.5 percent and exceeding the target set at the beginning of that year. There were 9.8 million urban residents entering the workforce for the first time, 800,000 over the target; and the registered urban unemployment rate was 4.2 percent, 0.5 percentage points below the target.

Influenced by the rise of grain prices and soaring oil prices on the international market, the consumer price index rose by 3.9 percent, slightly higher than the target of around 3 percent. Total volume of imports and exports increased by 35.7 percent due to the sustained world economic recovery and China's rapid economic growth, says the report.

It says in 2004, the economy grew rapidly yet steadily, and economic performance improved remarkably; adjustment of the industrial structure was vigorously promoted, and weak sectors were strengthened; further progress was made in the development of the western region, and restructuring and transformation of Northeast China and other old industrial bases got off to a good start; economic restructuring was further deepened, and China opened wider to the outside world; undertakings in science and technology, education, culture and health developed rapidly, and further progress was made in ecological conservation and environmental protection; and further progress was made in employment and social security work, and people's lives continued to improve.

The report also points out the obstacles to maintaining steady and rapid economic development: first, the agricultural infrastructure remains weak; second, the driving force behind investment growth is strong, and investment demand could return to excessive levels; third, there are tight constraints on resources and the environment; fourth, rural education, health, culture and other social undertakings fall far short of demand; fifth, the employment situation is gloomy and the income gap between some members of society is too wide, and some low-income people lead difficult lives; and sixth, deep-seated conflicts in economic and social development have yet to be fundamentally eliminated.