Senior Chinese leader Jia Qinglin has said that development is the priority task of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) as they govern and rejuvenate the country.
Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People?s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), stressed that development is also the No. 1 task for the CPPCC, the democratic parties and the industrial and commercial circles in their participation in government and political affairs.
Jia, also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks in his study tour in northeast Heilongjiang Province from May 27 to June 1.
Jia inspected several large state-run enterprises in local cities and held cordial talks with a number of grass-roots cadres, employees and scientific researchers.
He listened to a work report presented by local authorities on their efforts in fighting the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and in gearing up for local economic development.
Jia affirmed the local efforts, but stressed the need to remain alert with regard to controlling SARS, despite the fact that Harbin was not greatly affected by the highly contagious disease.
Jia also held talks with the leaders of the provincial committee of the CPPCC, local democratic parties and the local association of industry and commerce.
During the meetings, Jia urged full implementation of the "Three Represents" theory and urged that the united front and the CPPCC play their roles to the fullest in order to carry out the country's main tasks of economic reform and development.
(Xinhua News Agency June 3, 2003)
