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The pains of many SMEs lie in a lack of access to credit due to the unwillingness of commercial banks to lend them money. So an effective countermeasure is to direct easier credit into small businesses and improve the credit guarantee system.
Very few Chinese university graduates have the initial capital to start up their own businesses. But this is starting to change since the government has offered a series of powerful policy incentives, such as small loans, tax breaks and relevant training.
The Fight Against Corruption
Liang Huixing, deputy to the 11th NPC and a member of the NPC Law Committee
The country has attached great importance to the fight against corruption. In his work report to the NPC, Premier Wen said government officials must report their property and "willingly" accept the oversight of disciplinary bodies.
Despite significant progress in the country's anti-corruption drive, vigorous efforts are still needed to press ahead with precautionary measures and strict enforcement of punishments. For example, it is necessary for the government to increase transparency in promoting cadres and take public opinion into consideration, as well as regulate the bidding process for public projects and government purchases.
It is also imperative to establish an effective system for officials to report their personal property including incomes, housing, investments, and spouses' and children's jobs.
Justice departments, in particular, must deepen their reforms to improve efficiency and consolidate supervision over officials in the fight against corruption.
Supporting the Green Economy
Liu Shaozhong, deputy to the 11th NPC and Director of the Yunnan Provincial Commission of Industry and Information Technology
Energy shortages and environmental degradation are placing an onus on the Chinese economy to go low-carbon. This means enterprises must improve their energy efficiency and curb emissions, and individuals must reduce their carbon footprints. Even simple behavioral changes, such as turning off unused lights or walking to work instead of driving, could be helpful to greening the planet.
Curbing highly polluting and energy-guzzling industries could compromise GDP growth for a short time, but given its far-reaching implications for the economy, it is well worth the effort.
Last year, we promoted the use of more than 8 million energy-saving lights across the province, which in turn helped conserve 230 million yuan ($34 million) worth of electricity and avoid emissions of more than 435,000 tons of carbon dioxide.
To accelerate development in the green economy, the country will have to push for greater use of renewable energies, like wind and hydro-power, and press ahead with environmentally friendly sectors, like tourism and hi-tech businesses.
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