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DATE=3/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246628
TITLE=CHINA / LEGISLATURE / L
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  CHINESE LAWMAKERS HAVE COMPLETED THEIR ANNUAL SESSION IN 
BEIJING'S GREAT HALL OF THE PEOPLE.  V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS
THIS YEAR'S WORKMANLIKE MEETING ENDORSED A GREATER ROLE FOR 
PRIVATE ENTERPRISE IN CHINA'S ECONOMY AND ISSUED A CALL TO ROOT 
OUT OFFICIAL CORRUPTION.
TEXT:  AMENDMENTS TO CHINA'S CONSTITUTION WERE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF 
AN 11-DAY SESSION OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS, THAT ENDED 
MONDAY.  NEARLY THREE THOUSAND DEPUTIES APPROVED AN AMENDMENT TO 
BOOST THE STATUS OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR -- FROM JUST A 
"COMPLEMENT" OF THE COUNTRY'S SOCIALIST ECONOMY TO AN "IMPORTANT 
COMPONENT."
ALTHOUGH IT WILL HAVE LITTLE IMMEDIATE PRACTICAL EFFECT, IT 
SIGNALS AN IMPORTANT CHANGE IN IDEOLOGY.
ANOTHER AMENDMENT ENSHRINES THE CONCEPT OF RULE OF LAW.  OTHER 
AMENDMENTS CODIFY FORMER PARAMOUNT LEADER DENG XIAOPING'S 
PRAGMATIC FREE-MARKET COURSE -- WHICH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT 
REFERS TO AS SOCIALISM, WITH CHINESE CHARACTERISTICS.  DELEGATES 
ALSO PASSED A CONTRACT LAW THAT UNIFIES SEVERAL EXISTING RULES 
AND REGULATIONS.
CHINESE PREMIER ZHU RONGJI'S WORK REPORT WAS PASSED ALMOST 
UNANIMOUSLY.
IT INSISTED CHINA WOULD NOT RETREAT FROM TOUGH REFORMS -- 
INCLUDING SHUTTING DOWN LOSS-MAKING STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES.  MR.
ZHU HAS SAID THESE CLOSURES WILL CONTINUE, DESPITE THE PAIN OF 
UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE ASIAN FINANCIAL 
CRISIS.
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HOPES PRIVATE BUSINESSES WILL BE ABLE TO 
CREATE JOBS AND ABSORB WORKERS LAID OFF FROM THE STATE SECTOR.
MAINTAINING SOCIAL STABILITY IS ANOTHER ISSUE OF PARAMOUNT 
CONCERN.  THE CHINESE PREMIER WARNED LOCAL OFFICIALS NOT TO 
EXACERBATE PUBLIC RESENTMENT BY CORRUPT ABUSE OF POWER OR BY 
RESORTING TO DICTATORIAL ACTS OF SUPPRESSION.  
ALTHOUGH DEPUTIES APPROVED THE PREMIER'S WORK REPORT, NEARLY 12 
PERCENT OF THE DELEGATES OPPOSED OR ABSTAINED FROM VOTING FOR MR.
ZHU'S BUDGET.  (SIGNED)
NEB / HO / WD / WD 
15-Mar-99 7:02 AM EST (1202 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.