From Financial Times:
Maintaining China’s rapid economic growth remains the ruling Communist party’s “top priority”, President Hu Jintao said on Monday, even as he acknowledged the need to pay greater attention to the environment and social welfare.
Mr Hu, who heads the party, opened its five-yearly congress by declaring that economic development had been of “decisive significance” in modernising the country and building a prosperous “socialist” society. “Rapid development represents the most remarkable achievement [of the last five years],” he said. Mr Hu, who heads the party, opened its five-yearly congress by declaring that economic development had been of “decisive significance” in modernising the country and building a prosperous “socialist” society. “Rapid development represents the most remarkable achievement [of the last five years],” he said. China has enjoyed near double-digit annual growth in Mr Hu’s first five-year term, a rise which has transformed the country into a global trading power and one of the fastest growing markets in the world for many products.[Full Text]