NPC deputies: China needs efficient growth

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao says, China would boost fiscal spending in 2013 to deliver economic growth of 7.5 percent in 2013. On the sidelines of first annual session of the 12th National People's Congress that got underway today, our reporter Yin Hang spoke with a number of attendees. They say, China needs to make certain changes to ensure sustainable growth.

Amid global headwinds, China's economy grew 7.8 percent in 2012, its worst performance in 13 years. While it's still an enviable growth rate compared to most other countries, it marks a turning point for the world's second-largest economy.

"The world's second largest economy is now standing at a crossroad after 30 years of fast development. Many deputies attending this years two sessions are calling for a fairer system and qualified growth in order to maintain sustainable development of the country's economy."

Many attendees say China's growth is still plagued by an inefficient growth model in some sectors. It's also hindered by imbalance and inequality in areas like income distribution, healthcare and education.

"Improving the growth structure is vital in pushing forward China's growth. The transformation of the economic growth pattern also needs to break up the barrier of the old systems."

"China's economy has seen rapid growth in the past 30 years. The old way of high investment and low returns should be changed. That's why we need to boost domestic consumption. We also cannot ignore the environmental problems that are caused during the course of our development."

China's government has pledged to push reform and development, benefiting all people, and to consolidate popular support for deepening reform.

But some attendees warn, the international economic environment looks to remain sluggish, so China needs to stick to its own way of development.

"I think the biggest challenge facing China is how China can ensure its development amid the current international economic environment. China's growth mode should be focused on industrialization, information, and agricultural modernization. These elements should be interactive."

China's central government has been working to spur reforms in income distribution, break up monopolies in all sectors and ensure equality, against a backdrop of a shrinking workforce and an increasingly unsustainable export-driven economy.

Many attendees are expecting the ongoing NPC and CPPCC sessions to pave the way for China's development in an efficient and fair way.