CHINA: Potential unrest caused by the urban-rural pay gap is Beijing's main concern, reports Clifford Coonan
Delegates to China's National People's Congress gave an overwhelming, and entirely expected, seal of approval to government plans to stick to the path of reform and spend some of China's new riches on the rural poor.
Almost 3,000 Communist Party cadres in the cavernous Great Hall of the People on central Beijing's Tiananmen Square voted almost 98 per cent in favour of a five-year plan creating a "new socialist countryside" with better income, healthcare and social welfare.
Delegates come to the red flag-bedecked gala celebration of "socialism with Chinese characteristics" dressed in the traditional costumes of their local regions, in military uniform, or in plain blue business suits. But they all tend to vote the same way.
In true Communist Party style, delegates have never voted down party policy at the annual congress. However, the parliament is viewed as more than a rubber stamp, as much can be learned about party thinking from the debate on the fringes.
Premier Wen Jiabao held his annual press conference, the only occasion where journalists can meet senior government figures in public, and answered questions prepared in advance.
The prime minister took a firm line on reform. "To be resolute is to unwaveringly push forward reform and opening up and take a socialist path with Chinese characteristics," Mr Wen said.
"There will be difficulties as we move ahead, but we cannot stop. Back-pedalling offers no way out."
The congress threw up a number of issues such as the environment, education reform, and relations with Japan, but the wealth gap dominated the proceedings.
Mr Wen set the tone 10 days ago with an opening speech saying China would channel its surging economic growth to narrow the wealth gap.
At issue was the pace of reform, both economic and social. China's economy is the fastest growing in the world, but there are fears that the wealth gap between the cities and the countryside, along with local corruption, land grabs and other problems, is leading to social instability.
Around 800 million of China's 1.3 billion people live in the countryside and earn less than a euro a day. Mr Wen pledged to punish officials who forcibly grab farmland, a common grievance.
"The central issue for farmers is property. We will make sure we guarantee the long-term land rights of farmers. We will maintain the strictest controls to prevent their land being taken away from them," Mr Wen said.
Security was tight during the NPC, with activists rounded up or held under house arrest for the duration to stop them trying to plead their cases to the assembly. At least four petitioners were taken into custody outside the Great Hall yesterday.
The Communist Party has cracked down on press freedom, the internet, activist lawyers and dissidents in recent months in a bid to muzzle critical voices and quell rural unrest.
The tough new approach was in evidence when activist Li Jianping, arrested last year over postings on overseas Chinese websites, was charged with trying to subvert state power, according to Human Rights Watch.
There are reportedly 40,000 security officials in China whose job it is to monitor the internet. Mr Wen said all Chinese had the right to use the internet, "but at the same time, every citizen must conscientiously abide by law and order to safeguard national, social and collective interests".
In what is being read as a conciliatory move, the senior leadership suggested it might be prepared to enter into dialogue with Taiwan, saying it would talk to Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party under the terms of the "One China" principle, which states that Taiwan and the mainland, which split at the end of a civil war in 1949, are part of a single country.
Talks would take place on condition the DPP dropped its pro-independence stance first.
Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian's party rejected the overture. However, he said in an interview that reunification was an option provided it would be peaceful and preserve democracy.