興邊富民行動 Program to Revitalize Border Areas and Enrich Residents’ Lives

A State campaign to boost social and economic development of regions along the land borderline. In 1998, the State Ethnic Affairs Commission started the program to improve the lives of the ethnic people who comprise 48 percent of the 21 million residents in 135 counties along the borderline. Favorable policies and direct financial investment were granted to improve the infrastructure and public facilities, develop education, promote literacy, boost trade and nurture industries. By 2005, the government spent at least 15 billion yuan in the border areas through the program.

綠色信貸 Green Credit

A policy to encourage the businesses to observe the rules and regulations about environmental protection with the leverage of bank credits. Initiated by the former State Environmental Protection Administration, currently the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and China Banking Regulatory Commission in July, 2007, the policy requires the commercial banks, when reviewing the application for bank credits, to consider whether the applying businesses have followed the environmental rules. The violators have less chance to get the approval, while the green businesses would get favorable treatment in this regard. The policy marks a start for the central government to step up the country’s environmental protection through market-oriented means.

廉租房 Low-rent Housing

State-owned houses are rented out at modest prices to low-income families who do not have proper housing in the cities.

In 1998, the central government required all cities to offer low-rent housing to families with the lowest income before the end of 2006 and the deadline was later changed to the end of 2007.

In each city, the standards for a family’s per capita living floor space and minimum income are set by the local governments. Families whose living space and income are both below the standards are given low-rent houses. If the governments do not have enough houses, they offer financial subsidy to these families. The rent is set at about 5 percent of the family’s income.

家庭聯產承包責任制 Household Contract Responsibility System

The system allows farming households to manage agricultural production on their own initiatives while the farmland remains in the ownership of the rural collective. Started in Xiaogang village in Anhui province in the late 1970s, the system enables farmers to use land through long-term contracts and keep the produce after paying taxes. It raised productivity and increased agricultural output, both of which were preconditions for nurturing the economic takeoff, and comprehensive industrialization and urbanization. The start of this system is widely accepted as a milestone in the economic opening up.

假日經濟 Holiday Economy

A popular term to describe the huge public spending during holidays which contributes significantly to economic growth and structural upgrade.

In 1999, the State Council decided to extend the public holidays for May Day, National Day and Spring Festival to one week. The holidays became good opportunities for people to travel, shop and generally enjoy themselves.

Since then, the massive consumption has boosted tourism, retail, transportation, cinemas, exhibitions, sports and other related industries, thereby benefiting the people and the country.