Li Deshui, director of National Bureau of Statistics, disclosed a set of astonishing figures at the ongoing annual CPPCC session: the annual GDP reported by various provinces, regions and municipalities across the countries in 2004 was 3.9 percent higher than the growth rate published by National Bureau of Statistics, telling a big gap of RMB 2.6582 trillion yuan.

However, according to the indexes released by National Statistics of Bureau, the GDP in China last year stood at 13.65 trillion yuan, up 9.5 percent from that of 2003.

Speaking at the CPPCC economic circle symposium, Li frankly noted that under the current grade accounting system, certain gap in data was unavoidable. But the total GDP reported by various provinces, regions and municipalities was evidently much higher than that released by National Bureau of Statistics. It goes without saying that such a huge gap is evidently abnormal.

"In accordance with the international practice, the GDP data released by National Bureau of Statistics is independently calculated, and is not obtained simply by summing up the numbers reported by governments at various levels and then being averaged and again "cut off a chunk'" reiterated Li. "Some basic data is directly obtained through sample survey conducted by three survey teams directly affiliated to National Bureau of Statistics. Generally speaking, the data collection and accounting system is free from interference of local governments," added Li.

Taking a look at the numbers over years in the past there has always been certain disparity between the regional GDP data and national data. The gap even grew wider in the time of fast economic growth. The huge gap in GDP statistical growth last year is resulted from unreasonable factors in many aspects: the anticipated objective of economic growth passed by NPC at various levels at the beginning of 2005 always sees the quota being raised at each level and so the accounting procedure needs to be further regulated; materials are collected from different sources; with the quick expansion of some trans-regional companies and enterprises, the business operations of headquarters and branches have been repeatedly counted in the regional statistics; some local governments put more emphasis on the indexes of economic growth, and even take it as one of the key criteria for the evaluation of achievements of major officials and cadres.

Statistics over the past years show that the GDP growth rate collected by provinces, regions and cities across the country is two percent higher than the national level. However, the data collected by cities within certain province is two percent higher than that at the provincial level and the data by counties within certain city is once again two percent higher than the city level. With regard to this question, statistics bureaus at provincial and regional levels and National Bureau of Statistics are also faced with some troubles.

"The GDP data provided by National Bureau of Statistics is more practical and reasonable, and it can reflect the overall level and development trend of the national economic operation in China. So, the international organizations and well-known experts have given their thumbs up for it," said Li.

To solve the problem once and for all, according to Li, is to set up a comprehensive system for evaluation of social-economic development and a checkup and evaluation system on cadres' performance in line with scientific concept of development, thereby effectively bringing those behaviors such as the loss of contact with reality, eagerness for instant success and quick profits as well as unrealistic comparison with others under control.

By People's Daily Online