SWB
FE/7817/BII/2
5 Dec 84
essential and we need to carry it out. We must provide enthusiastic support for third-line construction. This must not be neglected. There is also a foundation for third-line construction. We must attach importance to bringing its role into play. However, equipment needs improvement. Some equipment was relatively advanced for China at the time, but now it is old and produces poor results. Unless improvements are carried out, the equipment cannot meet the demands of modern production.
President Li also stressed: The core of the seventh Five-Year Plan is to carry out technological transformation of old enterprises and modify the equipment and skills in key enterprises into advanced equipment and skills. There are great potentials in this respect.
On further grasping future industrial development, President Li said: The main thing is to have advanced equipment and technology. Attention must also be paid to product variety and quality. Good new products can stimulate consumption; high consumption will stimulate production.
On implementing the policies on intellectuals, President Li said: We must attach importance to scientific research and to bringing into play the role of intellectuals and solve their difficulties.
When a report mentioned further restructuring agriculture, stabilising grain output and developing commodity economy, President Li said: Prices in Sichuan are relatively stable. This is mainly because there is an abundance of grain, oil, meat and vegetables. So long as there is plenty of grain, oil, meat and vegetables to eat and warm clothes to wear, people's minds [words indistinct]. It is not suitable to rely on grain purchases; we should rely on ourselves. We cannot say at present that there is too much. grain.
While listening to the reports, President Li Xiannian also gave instructions and voiced his hopes on work in Sichuan.
(b) Xinhua in Chinese 1525 gmt 2 Dec 84
Excerpts from report:
On 27th November Changdu plain enjoyed a clear and boundless sky. On that day the Secretary of the Daxian prefectural CCP Committee and the six county Party secretaries of Bazhong, Tongjiang, Nanjiang, Wanyuan, Pingchang and Daxian came to Jinniu guesthouse in the Western suburbs of Chengdu. On behalf of the people in the Dabashan area, they called on President Li Xiannian to extend to him the cordial greet- ings of the people in the old liberated area...
Sheng Yongtang, Secretary of the Daxian prefectural CCP Committee... introduced to President Li the excellent situation in Daxian prefecture. He said: Before the third plenary session of the 11th CCP Central Committee, the per-capita income in Daxian prefecture reached an average of only 57 yuan. Production in the past few years has continuously developed. It is estimated that this year the total industrial and agricultural output value will reach 3,800 million yuan, total grain output will reach 7,700 million jin and the average per-capita income will increase to 187 yuan. The people in the old liberated area have peace of mind and are quite satisfied with the Party's policies. However, the people in the mountain area are still relatively poor. In some places the question of food and clothing has not been entirely solved.
President Li nodded again and again, saying: The situation is excellent, but some problems still exist. I think that to view the situation in this way conforms to the situation. The question of food and clothing in the mountain area of the old revolution- ary base still remains to be completely solved. This is a major question and you must think of a way to solve it as soon as possible. It is necessary to develop the economy in the mountain area in line with local conditions and no longer follow "taking grain as the key link" as in the past. It is necessary to give full play to the superiority of the mountain
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