EXECUTIVE Vice-Premier Zhu Rongji has expressed confidence about taming the economy in an apparent effort to bolster his political fortunes.
The Chinese media yesterday focused on remarks by Mr Zhu to delegates at the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) that chronic problems such as inflation would soon be brought under control.
Chinese economists, however, have cited internal reports which say the leadership cannot afford to fight inflation with full force for fear of causing political instability.
And in remarks at the National People's Congress (NPC) and the CPPCC, Politburo members continue to give priority to stability and centralised control of the economy.
The Chinese press yesterday quoted Mr Zhu as telling a group of CPPCC delegates that he was 'full of confidence about the development goals this year'.
The economic tsar gave 'full affirmation to the decisive progress achieved in the reform of the economic structure last year'.
Mr Zhu also reportedly gave a 'realistic analysis' of the high inflation rate in 1994, which was more than double the goal stated by premier Li Peng at the NPC a year ago.