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VI. Implementing the Strategy of Developing the Country Through Science and Education and the Strategy of Sustainable Development and Strengthening Spiritual Civilization Expediting scientific and technological progress and innovation. We will accelerate the establishment of a state innovation system. We will concentrate on strengthening basic research and research in high and new technology of strategic importance and improve our capability of independent innovation. To upgrade industries and increase their competitiveness, we will strengthen research and development of key technology and industry-specific technology and accelerate the application of research results to production and their dissemination. We will set up new and improve existing mechanisms to encourage venture investment and provide incentives for scientific and technological innovation. We will further reform the management system for science and technology and deepen the reform of applied research institutes and non-profit research institutes. Departmental and regional barriers will be removed to rationally allocate research resources in society in order to form a management system for science and technology that integrates government departments, local authorities, institutions of higher learning and enterprises. We will step up the establishment of technological development centers of large and medium-sized enterprises. We will develop philosophy and social sciences and focus on research on topics of long-term, strategic importance, and topics that affect the overall interests of the country. We will effectively protect and manage intellectual property rights. We should raise moral standards in academic fields. Continuing to give priority to the development of education. We will intensify our efforts to improve quality-oriented education and strengthen ideological and political work at schools in order to help our students improve their moral qualities, intellectual ability, physical fitness and aesthetic appreciation. We will strengthen basic education and consolidate and expand the achievements we have made in making nine-year compulsory education basically universal and eliminating illiteracy among young and middle-aged people in rural areas. We will pay particular attention to quickening the pace of making nine-year compulsory education universal in poverty-stricken areas and areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups. We will extend the reform of the management system for rural compulsory education under which county authorities assume main responsibilities. We will make sure that teachers are paid in full and on time. Senior secondary school education will be vigorously expanded. We will steadily develop regular higher education and adjust the division of disciplines to adapt to new circumstances. We will make great efforts to develop secondary and higher vocational education. We will reform the curriculum and teaching materials, updating instruction content and improving the quality of teaching. We will continue to promote the reform of the internal management system of institutions of higher learning and commercialize their support services. The ideological level and professional competence of teachers should be raised in an all-round way. We will accelerate the application of IT to education and develop modern distance education. The government will increase its input in education and encourage, support and standardize the running of schools by non-governmental sectors or by Chinese-foreign cooperation. Earnestly implementing the strategy of tapping human resources. We will adhere to the guiding principle of making the ranks of cadres more revolutionary, younger in average age, better educated and professionally more competent and the principle of having both political integrity and professional ability. We will accelerate the training and selection of outstanding personnel, especially those who are well trained in high technology, international finance, accounting, trade, law or modern management in order to meet the new needs of reform and opening up and the modernization drive. We will deepen the reform of the personnel system related to cadres to improve their selection, appointment, evaluation, incentives and supervision. We have to become adept at identifying young promising scientists and technicians and boldly give them responsible work. We will give full play to the role of engineers, technicians and skilled technical workers. In income distribution, we will implement the policy of letting technology, management and other essential factors of production have a rightful share. Scientists, technicians and senior managerial personnel who have made outstanding contributions shall be rewarded. We will take still more effective measures to attract and employ well-trained personnel from abroad and encourage Chinese students studying overseas to return home and work in China. Maintaining sustainable development. We must adhere to the basic state policy on family planning and implement the Population and Family Planning Law. We will pay particular attention to improving family planning work in rural areas and among the floating population, keep the birth rate low, and provide good prenatal and postnatal care. We will conscientiously implement the programs for the development of work concerning women and children and protect the legitimate rights and interests of women and minors. Better care will be given to the aged. Programs to help the physically and mentally challenged deserve our concern and support. We will protect and rationally use land, mineral resources, fresh water, marine resources, forests, pastures and climatic resources in accordance with the law, implement a system of rigorous management of arable and forest land and focus on saving water and energy. We will utilize natural resources more effectively and improve the system of compensation for their use. We will continue to put more money in environmental protection. Efforts to protect the ecological environment and to prevent and control pollution will be intensified. The construction of key environmental protection and pollution control projects will be accelerated. The quality of the environment in major river valleys, regions, cities and sea areas will be improved by effectively controlling and reducing the discharge of pollutants there. We will introduce clean production methods and develop the environmental protection industry. We will expand ecological demonstration zones. More trees and grass will be planted. We will strengthen the protection of wetland. A system will be established for protecting the environment and for preventing and reducing natural disasters. We will expand health services and pay special attention to public health and to medical services in rural areas and invest more in them. We will explore various forms of health security in rural areas and improve the medical conditions of rural hospitals. We will prevent and treat major diseases, including contagious, occupational and endemic diseases. We will develop a nationwide fitness program and raise the competitiveness of our athletes. Good preparations will be made for the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 to promote reform, opening up and the modernization drive in the capital. Promoting spiritual civilization. We must make unremitting efforts to educate all our cadres and the people in Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thinking of "The Three Represents". We will continue to run the country by virtue as well as by law. The "Citizens' Code of Conduct" will be implemented to encourage all our people to develop the basic virtues of "patriotism and observance of law; courtesy and honesty; solidarity and friendship; diligence, frugality and self-improvement; and devotion and contribution". We will emphasize education in patriotism and promote the national spirit of rejuvenating China. We will work hard to disseminate scientific knowledge, to dispel ignorance and superstition, and to encourage people to be more scientifically minded and have enlightened, healthy lifestyles. We will promote mass activities to cultivate spiritual civilization. We will step up the development of social sciences, literature and art, the press and publishing, radio, film and television, and other cultural undertakings. We should adhere to the principle of serving the people and socialism. We will maintain the correct orientation of public opinion and produce more and better works that reflect the spirit of the times and the wishes of the people. We will further reform the press and publishing, radio, film and television industries and attach great importance to the role of Internet services and their management. We will protect cultural relics and build more libraries, museums, cultural centers, science and technology centers, archives and other public cultural and sports establishments. We will improve policies for industries related to culture and encourage non-government sectors to participate in cultural undertakings. Persistent efforts will be put into the fight against pornography and other illegal products. We will severely crack down on piracy and smuggling of videodisks. We will increase cultural exchanges with other countries. VII. Further Transforming Government Functions and Improving the Work Style These measures are needed to adapt to the new situation in the reform and opening up and to build an honest, diligent, pragmatic and efficient government. We need to fully carry out the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the Fifteenth Party Central Committee by concentrating on the following three tasks: Accelerating the transformation of government functions. Great progress has been made in reforming government institutions and in transforming government functions, but many problems remain to be solved. We need to further emancipate our minds, shake off the fetters of the traditional planned economy, and transform government functions into economic regulation, market supervision, social management and public service. We need to further define the functions of government departments to prevent cases like shifting one's responsibility to others or having no one take responsibility. We should conscientiously implement the basic principle of "running the country according to law", perform official duties lawfully and managing the government by high standards. We should deepen reform, reduce the scope of administrative examination and approval, standardize and simplify necessary approval procedures, stress openness and transparency, and clearly define responsibilities. For this purpose, the State Council has already issued instructions, and all local governments and departments should implement them conscientiously. We must accelerate the utilization of information technology in government administration, and promote e-administration to improve our working efficiency and exercise more effective supervision. Improving the work style of the government. There is the need to carry the fight against corruption further and build a clean and honest government. Performing official duties honestly and serving the people are requirements that derive from the fundamental purpose of our Party and the government, as well as basic norms that every government functionary must strictly abide by. Governments at all levels and all cadres must stay honest and clean and abide by the law. We must thoroughly investigate and prosecute those who have violated the law and discipline and those who are corrupt and degenerate or have abused power for personal gains. We need to intensify our effort to fight corruption and to prevent and eliminate its root causes. We need to conscientiously implement the Party Central Committee's decision to make this year a year for improving the government work style. We should resolutely get rid of formalism and bureaucratism, which harm both our country and the people. No effort should be spared to cut the number of meetings and official papers to a minimum. We should initiate investigations and studies, go all the way down to the realities of life and to the people to learn their actual conditions, listen to their opinions, share their weal and woe, and lose no time in solving the problems that they resent or are dissatisfied about. We must resolutely check bad practices, such as false reports to deceive one's superiors or subordinates, misuse of the people's financial resources, and coercion. We should speak the truth, do solid work, and stress practical results. Resolutely combating extravagance and waste. Extravagance and waste are already a serious problem in production, construction, circulation or consumption. Some local authorities like to build ostentatious projects in order to make a good impression or show their achievements. In urban development, they indiscriminately pursue things of the highest grade or standard. Some local authorities launch unfeasible construction projects when they cannot even pay wages on time. Some local authorities build luxurious office buildings and halls in violation of relevant regulations. Festivals and ceremonies of every conceivable description are celebrated, during which the hosts vie with one another for lavishness. Officials use public funds for wining and dining, extravagant entertainment and private travel abroad. This misconduct invariably consumes large sums of money, so we must resolutely stop this tendency. First, we must widely publicize the principles of working diligently, building the country and doing everything diligently and frugally. We must resolutely put an end to the erroneous practice of doing things without considering the actual conditions and probable results. Second, expenditures must be reduced. No effort should be spared to cut production, construction and distribution costs. All government departments, enterprises and institutions must make every cent count and prohibit all unnecessary expenses. All regions, departments and work units are obligated to formulate specific targets and measures for eliminating waste and reducing expenditures this year. Third, economic and financial discipline must be strictly enforced. A system of centralized collection and payment by the state treasury will be instituted for this purpose. Control over budgets, auditing and special financial accounts at all levels should be tightened. We will strengthen the management of revenues that exceed budget forecasts. Cases involving off-books accounts and arbitrary spending in violation of regulations will be investigated and dealt with severely. Governments at all levels must conscientiously subject themselves to the supervision of the people's congresses at the corresponding levels and their standing committees, take the initiative to strengthen ties with committees of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and listen to the views of the democratic parties, federations of industry and commerce, prominent figures without political party affiliation, and mass organizations. We need to further improve the democratic policy-making system, encourage people to oversee the work of government departments and their functionaries, widen the channels for promptly reporting social conditions and popular sentiments, and ensure that government work truly reflects the people's wishes and interests. (More)