Premier Wen Jiabao told legislators at the National People’s Congress (NPC) on Wednesday to focus on improving the efficiency and balance of China’s economic growth, the Wall Street Journal reported. In his annual report on the Chinese government’s workings, Wen announced increased social spending, including subsidies for the poor and an end to tuition fees for primary schools in urban areas. More money will also go towards scientific research, especially work related to energy-efficient technologies. Wen said the government would work to curb rising prices, aiming to keep inflation at "around 4.8%" for 2008. While indicating that Beijing’s credit policy will become tighter, he stressed that there would be no across-the-board clampdown, with growth encouraged in some sectors, such as agriculture, and discouraged in others, like heavy industry.
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