李克强总理：关于深化经济体制改革的若干问题（中英对照）

中文版：关于深化经济体制改革的若干问题.doc 

英文版：On Deepening Economic Reform.doc

关于深化经济体制改革的若干问题

On Deepening Economic Reform

 

李克强

Li Keqiang

 

党的十八届三中全会对全面深化改革作出了战略部署。经济体制改革是全面深化改革的重点，核心问题是处理好政府和市场的关系，使市场在资源配置中起决定性作用和更好发挥政府作用。我们要立足于我国长期处于社会主义初级阶段这个最大实际，坚持社会主义市场经济改革方向，充分认识深化经济体制改革的重要性和紧迫性，深刻理解其科学内涵和本质要求，扎实有力地做好各项改革工作，发挥经济体制改革牵引作用，协同推进其他领域改革，形成强大的改革合力。

 

Last year, the Third Plenary Session of the Eighteenth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) laid out strategic plans for the comprehensive deepening of reform in China. According to these plans, the emphasis of our efforts to comprehensively deepen reform will be placed on economic reform, wherein our core task will be to properly balance the relationship between the government and the market, so that the market can play the decisive role in the allocation of resources and the government can exert its role more effectively. Bearing in mind the fundamental reality that China is still in the primary stage of socialism, and will continue to be so for a considerable period of time to come, it is essential that we carry on orienting our reforms towards the socialist market economy, that we fully appreciate the importance and urgency of deepening economic reform, that we gain penetrating insight into the scientific connotations and inherent requirements of economic reform, and that we carry out our various reform initiatives in a solid and determined fashion. By making full use of economic reform as a driving force, we will promote the coordinated progression of reforms in various other areas, thereby generating strong synergy in reform.

 

一、发展要紧紧依靠改革

I. Development must come through reform

 

我国的基本国情，决定了发展仍是解决我国所有问题的关键，必须坚持以经济建设为中心，推动经济社会持续健康发展。实践表明，发展要靠改革。

 

China’s basic national conditions dictate that development still holds the key to solving all of China’s problems. Based on this realization, we must continue to regard economic development as our central task and make efforts to promote China’s sound and sustainable economic and social development. Fact has demonstrated that in order to achieve development, we must rely on reform.

 

过去36年，我国经济社会发展取得举世瞩目的成就，靠的就是改革。我国经济总量从世界第十位跃居第二位，从低收入经济体进入中高收入经济体行列，综合国力明显增强，国际地位显著提高。回首36年的改革历程，我们坚持解放思想、实事求是、与时俱进、求真务实，不断破除计划经济体制束缚，逐步建立和完善社会主义市场经济体制，推动经济社会持续向前发展。一路走来，基本场景是：当发展面临体制障碍难以前行、“山重水复疑无路”时，通过改革扫除障碍、增添动力，就会“柳暗花明又一村”。有人说，中国的改革开放是逼出来的，这个说法有一定道理。改革开放初期，安徽凤阳农民在全国率先搞大包干，就是因贫困和饥饿所迫。人还是那些人，地还是那些地，体制一改就大变样，温饱问题迅速得到解决。我们党尊重群众首创精神，及时在全国农村推开这项改革，随后又在城市和其他领域进行改革，极大地解放和发展了社会生产力，极大地改善和提高了人民生活。实践证明，只要紧紧依靠改革，坚持破除不合理的体制机制障碍，不断释放改革红利，就能激发人民群众中蕴藏的无限创造活力，勤劳智慧的中国人民就能创造巨大的社会财富，持续推动我国经济社会发展。

 

Over the last 36 years, it has been reform that has allowed China to make achievements in economic and social development that have captivated the world. In this time, China has risen from the tenth largest economy in the world to the second largest; it has gone from being a low-income economy to an upper-middle income one; and it has witnessed remarkable enhancements in both its overall national strength and international standing. With a commitment to freeing our minds, seeking truth from facts, advancing with the times, and acting in a realistic and pragmatic manner, we have continually dismantled the constraints of the planned economy, gradually established and developed a socialist market economy, and promoted the sustained development of our economy and society during 36 years of reform. This journey can be described as a constant process of encountering and overcoming obstacles. Whenever we have come up against an unassailable institutional barrier – a “river” that cannot be crossed or a “mountain” that cannot be scaled – we have cleared the path in front of us and injected ourselves with new vigor through reform, revealing a new path when there was seemingly no way forwards. Some have said that China’s reform and opening up drive has been forced by necessity, and I believe that there is some truth in such an assertion. At the beginning of the reform and opening up drive, a group of farmers in Fengyang County, Anhui Province, agreed amongst themselves to split collective farmland on a per household basis, something that had never been done before. We may say that they were forced to do so by poverty and hunger. This one change to the system had a huge effect: with the same number of people and the same amount of farmland, the problem of hunger was quickly resolved. Showing respect for the public’s creativeness, the CPC quickly implemented similar reforms in rural areas throughout the entire country. This was followed by reforms in cities and other areas of the economy, which were hugely effective in liberating and developing China’s productive forces and which brought about major improvements to the people’s standards of living. These experiences have shown us that by relying on reform, resolutely tearing down the obstacles posed by irrational systems and mechanisms, and working constantly to release the dividends of reform, we will be able to unleash the limitless creativity that lies locked within our people. If we succeed in doing that, the industrious and intelligent Chinese people will be able to create enormous amounts of social wealth, and our country’s economic and social development will have the impetus to go on.

 

过去的一年，我们应对复杂局面、实现良好开局，靠的也是改革。去年，面对国内外形势错综复杂、经济下行压力加大、多重矛盾相互交织的严峻局面，我国经济不仅避免了“硬着陆”，而且保持了稳中向好的态势，增长平稳、就业扩大、物价较低、收入提高，既好于预期，在国际上也很抢眼。取得这样的成绩，很重要的因素是靠改革。

 

Over the past year, it has been reform that has allowed us to get the work of the new government off to a good start against the backdrop of complex circumstances. Last year, in the face of complex domestic and international situations, mounting downward pressure on economic growth, and numerous intertwined challenges, the Chinese economy not only averted a “hard landing,” but also began to show a trend of improvement amidst stability, demonstrating steady growth, increased employment, moderate price increases, and higher incomes. In addition to exceeding our own expectations, this stood out as a strong performance internationally. One of the most important factors contributing to this performance was reform. 

 

我们大力推进以简政放权为重点的各项改革。分批取消和下放416项行政审批等事项，改革工商登记制度，扩大营改增试点，全面放开贷款利率管制，推进铁路投融资体制改革，设立中国上海自由贸易试验区等。通过这一系列改革举措，特别是向市场、向社会放权，激发了社会投资和创业热情，增强了市场主体发展信心。简政放权、激发市场活力，是实现去年经济稳中向好的关键一招。

 

We engaged in major efforts to promote a range of reforms, particularly those involving the streamlining of administration and the scaling back of administrative power. Reform measures we took last year included the successive cancelation and delegation of 416 items previously subject to State Council approval; the revamping of the registration system for industry and commerce; the expansion of trials to replace business tax with value-added tax (VAT); the complete lifting of interest rate controls on loans; the revamping of the investment and financing system for railway construction; and the establishment of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone. Through these reform initiatives, and particularly by placing power in the hands of the market and the non-government sector, we were able to encourage investment and business startups in the non-government sector and boost the confidence of market entities. The streamlining of administration and the scaling back of administrative power to stimulate the vitality of the market was the key to achieving the steady improvement of our economy last year.

 

我们积极创新宏观调控方式。根据去年年初提出的预期目标，明确经济运行合理区间，确定了稳增长、保就业的下限和防通胀的上限。只要经济运行处于这个区间，就着力促改革、调结构，增强发展内生动力。面对复杂多变的经济运行态势，我们保持定力，不随波动频繁的市场起舞，不因莫衷一是的声音变调，坚持不扩大财政赤字，既不放松也不收紧银根，即使货币市场出现短期波动，也沉着应对。资金紧张怎么办？我们千方百计盘活财政、货币资金存量，整合专项转移支付，压减机关事业单位一般性支出，扩大信贷资产证券化试点，最大限度挖掘资金潜力。同时，想方设法用好资金增量，优化财政支出和信贷资金结构，集中用于经济发展的关键环节和改善民生的重点领域，结果没有多花钱却多办了事，还办成了一些大事。

 

We actively adopted innovative approaches in macro-control. In line with the targets we set for ourselves at the beginning of last year, we clearly defined acceptable parameters for the operation of our economy in 2013, identifying a minimum acceptable level for economic growth and job creation on the one hand and a maximum acceptable level for inflation on the other. Provided that our economy remained within these parameters, we would focus our efforts on promoting reform, restructuring the economy, and boosting our capacity for endogenous growth. In the face of an extremely complicated and unpredictable economic situation, we resolved to stand firm and hold our ground, neither allowing ourselves to be carried away by a constantly fluctuating market, nor shifting our policies to suit different opinions. We were determined not to expand our fiscal deficit, and we resolved to neither loosen nor tighten our monetary policy. Even when we encountered short-term fluctuations in the money market, our response was calm and collected. But how did we respond to funding shortages? To overcome this problem, we did everything in our power to bring idle fiscal funds and monetary funds into play; we consolidated transfer payments and held down the general budgetary expenditure of government agencies and government-affiliated institutions; and we expanded the scope of trials for the securitization of credit assets. By doing so, we were able to tap the full potential of the funds available to us. At the same time, we explored numerous ways of utilizing additional funds that were newly created. By optimizing the structure of our fiscal spending and credit funds, we were able to channel funding towards areas that were crucial to securing economic growth and improving the wellbeing of the public. As a result, not only were we able to achieve more without spending more, but we even managed to undertake some major initiatives. 

 

我们着力依靠改革实施结构调整。从优化供给和改善需求两侧精准发力，主要运用市场化办法并辅之以差别化政策，有扶有控、有保有压、有进有退，既大力支持服务业和新兴产业发展，促进传统产业改造升级，积极化解部分行业产能严重过剩矛盾，又加大棚户区改造、中西部铁路建设、城市基础设施等薄弱环节投资。结构调整步伐加快，特别是需求结构、产业结构、城乡结构、区域结构等发生了可喜变化。消费对国内生产总值的贡献率达到50%，同比提高4.1个百分点；服务业占比达到46.1%，首次超过第二产业；粮食产量超过1.2万亿斤，实现“十连增”；中西部地区生产总值增速快于东部地区；农村居民收入增幅继续超过城镇居民，城乡收入差距进一步缩小。这既拉动了当期增长，又为长期发展铺路搭桥。

 

We devoted major efforts to carrying out economic restructuring through reform. In a precision effort to optimize supply on the one side of the equation whilst improving demand on the other, we drew primarily on market forces backed by differentiated policies to support, guarantee, and advance certain sectors while controlling, scaling back, and withdrawing others. On the one hand, we engaged in major efforts to support the development of the service sector and emerging industries; promoted the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries; and worked actively to address the problem of serious excess production capacity in certain industries. On the other hand, we stepped up government investment in weak areas such as urban renewal, railway construction in central and western China, and urban infrastructure development. As a result of these efforts, the pace of our economic restructuring has picked up, and particularly pleasing developments have been seen in our demand, industrial, urban-rural, and regional structures. In 2013, consumption was responsible for 50% of China’s GDP, up 4.1 percentage points from the previous year; the service sector accounted for 46.1% of our GDP, surpassing the secondary industry for the first time; and grain output exceeded 600 million metric tons, increasing for the tenth consecutive year. At the same time, the economic growth of China’s central and western regions outpaced that of its eastern region, and rural incomes continued to grow at a faster rate than urban ones, signaling the further reduction of the urban-rural income gap. The initiatives we have taken in restructuring are not only driving our growth at present, but will also pave the way for development in the long term. 

 

人无远虑，必有近忧。现在回过头看，如果不是用改革的办法，即简政放权、创新宏观调控方式、着力调整结构“三管齐下”，而是采取短期刺激政策，不仅去年的结果可能会大不一样，而且今后几年的日子也许会更难过。靠改革创新，既解决当前突出问题，又为长远发展奠定基础，这是去年实践给我们的深刻启示。

 

Failing to plan for the long term will inevitably bring about trouble in the short term. Looking back now, if we had opted for short-term stimulus policies instead of turning to reform, that is, our three-way approach of streamlining administration and scaling back administrative power, adopting innovative approaches in macro-control, and carrying out economic restructuring, it is likely that last year would have played out very differently. Moreover, we would probably have created many difficulties for ourselves in the years ahead. Last year taught us that reform and innovation not only allow us to address the striking problems that we face in the short term, but also enable us to lay down a foundation for long-term development.

 

今后实现经济持续健康发展，仍然要靠改革。我国发展仍处于可以大有作为的重要战略机遇期，新型工业化、信息化、城镇化、农业现代化深入推进，区域发展回旋余地很大，今后一个时期保持经济中高速增长是有潜力、有基础的。但也要看到，我国经济发展已进入结构调整阵痛期、增长速度换挡期，到了爬坡过坎的紧要关口。不深化改革，发展就难有活力、难以持续，甚至可能陷入“中等收入陷阱”。我们要坚定不移推进改革，坚决破除体制机制弊端，进一步解放和发展生产力，把千千万万群众的积极性和创造性调动起来，让潜在的发展优势充分显现，推动经济发展行稳致远。

 

To achieve sustained and healthy economic development in the future, we must continue to rely on reform. China is still in the midst of an important period of strategic opportunity in which it may achieve a great deal. With the continued progression of new models of industrialization, IT application, urbanization, and agricultural modernization, we will find ourselves with ample space for development across different regions of China. This means that we have both the potential and the foundations to maintain a medium-high rate of economic growth for a period of time to come. However, we also need to be aware that China has entered a painful phase of economic restructuring, and a phase in which the country’s economic growth is undergoing a change of gear. In other words, we have come to a critical uphill stretch in our development. If we do not deepen reform, we will lose the momentum to keep on developing, and we may even risk falling into the “middle-income trap.” Therefore, we must advance reform with unbreakable resolve, resolutely remove the defects that are present in our systems and mechanisms, and promote the further liberation and development of productive forces. We must unleash the creativity and enthusiasm of millions upon millions of people, give full expression to our hidden strengths, and promote the steady development of our economy for years to come.

 

处理好改革与发展速度的关系非常重要。推进改革需要相应的经济环境，从实际情况看，速度过高或过低都不利于改革。如果发展速度过低，就业会出问题，居民收入增速及民生改善步伐也会相应放缓，老百姓就会不满意，改革就难以推进。但发展速度高了，会使各方面的关系绷得很紧，容易引发通胀，妨碍结构调整，也会影响改革。我们要坚决纠正单纯以经济增长速度评定政绩的偏向，保持合理的、没水分、有质量、有效益、有利于保护环境的经济增长。改革是发展的动力，总体有利于经济增长。今后，我们要更好地把改革与发展结合起来，使之相辅相成、相互促进、相得益彰。

 

It is extremely important that we correctly balance the relationship between reform and the pace of economic growth. The right economic conditions are required before reform can be advanced. According to our experience, conditions for reform are not ideal when economic growth is too fast or too slow. When economic growth is too slow, employment inevitably becomes a problem. The corresponding slowdown in the growth of incomes and the improvement of public wellbeing becomes the cause of public dissatisfaction, which in turn becomes an obstacle to the progression of reform. When economic growth is too fast, however, various economic relationships become overstretched. This overly rapid growth gives rise to inflation, becomes an obstacle to economic restructuring, and even hinders reform. This is the reason why we must take resolute steps to rectify the tendency to gauge government performance solely on the basis of growth speed. Rather than pursue speed alone, we must strive to maintain genuine growth that is reasonably paced, high in quality and efficiency, and of benefit to our initiatives in environmental protection. Reform may be regarded as a driving force for development, being mostly conducive to economic growth. For this reason, we need to better link reform and development in the future, ensuring that the two are able to support, complement, and mutually reinforce each other.