Lessons From China’s Growth

　　China is no longer just focusing on GDP growth alone. This remark byChinese Premier Li Keqiang at his press conference on March 13 signals the ChineseGovernment’s determination to make the country’s economy healthier. However，with slower pace of economic expansion， a certain level of growth has to be retainedin order “to keep stability in the labor market， to benefit people’s livelihoods and toincrease the income of urban and rural residents，” the premier pledged. But how tostrike a balance？ “Reform” is the answer given in Premier Li’s Government Work Reportdelivered at the Second Session of the 12th National People’s Congress， China’stop legislature， held March 5 to 13.

　　The word “reform” was mentioned 77 times in Li’s report， according to someobservant local media. But actually it has been a buzzword used frequently over thepast year， especially since November 2013 when the Third Plenum of the 18th CentralCommittee of the ruling Communist Party of China rolled out ambitious plans fordeepening reforms in China.

　　For this year’s agenda， which set improving people’s well-being as the fundamentalgoal， structural adjustments have been made a reform priority， placing pollution，inefficiency and corruption among the most serious problems to address. Althoughpollution， air pollution in particular， is not a new problem， government efforts inresolving it over the past years achieved unsatisfactory results， leading to increasingsmog-affected areas and mounting public complaints. This year’s growth target maybe flexible， but government’s “war on smog” will be anything but. Tough measuresand regulations will be adopted and enforced. Polluters， who harm both the environmentand people’s health， will be severely punished， and watchdogs， who turn a blindeye to polluting activities and fail to perform their duties， will be held accountable，Premier Li pledged.

　　A healthier Chinese economy means more opportunities for the outside world，Africa included. In an effort to optimize its market-driven economy， China is strivingto upgrade its position in the global supply chain from being the “world’s factory”to a “technological innovator and leader.” During this transition， African countriescould likely see relocation of more existing Chinese manufacturing centers. HoweverPremier Li warned Chinese enterprises that high quality products and services wereof the utmost importance when going global.

　　China’s development has been seen by many African countries as a good exampleto learn from. However， while learning from China’s success， they should make agenuine effort to avoid emulating the inefficient and unsustainable growth modelwhich has made negative impacts on China’s economy and the life of its people.

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