10th five-year plan: facts & figures

Source: CCTV.com

03-02-2006 14:28

The 10th Five Year Plan was the first for the new century.

Rural development was listed as a priority.

In 2003, the government increased arable land, and the favorable policies and new technologies introduced led to a surge in agricultural products.

In 2005, output per hectare and total output both reached record highs. And this, combined with the abolition of rural tax resulted in higher incomes.

Imports and exports also made unprecedented breakthroughs, topping 1 trillion US dollars. China is now the world's third largest exporter and an indispensable force in the global economy.

Also last year, the gross domestic product reached 1.7 trillion dollars, surpassing targets.

And in 2003, the per capita GDP climbed over the 1,000-dollar threshold, an international standard for a medium-developed country.

China also diverted more investment into scientific and technological innovation. During the five years, high tech sectors thrived, and industry was restructured.

The brightest highlight was the successful launch of the Shenzhou manned spacecrafts, making China the third country to put a man in space, after the United States and Russia.

However, analysts also identified problems that threaten sustained development - such as overheating, unbalanced development, and pollution.

China's development is using up a huge amount of resources. In 2004 alone, consumption of coal and iron was about 30 percent of the world's total.

This mode of growth has created serious challenges to the environment and energy supplies. The government is urging a shift to more energy efficient, environment friendly, but still fast and sustained growth.

Meanwhile, a increasing gap between the rich and the poor has also raised concerns. A lot of emphasis has been put on less developed parts of the country. The government has been urging a more balanced development, allocating aid to western and rural regions.

Editor:Chen