ECONOMIC czar Mr Zhu Rongji warned regional cadres not to take advantage of Beijing's determination to implement its enterprise reform programme.
The Vice-Premier, who was given effective control of running the country's economy last October, said in an economic reform conference that Beijing would not grant ''blanket approval'' on foreign trade and finance to all enterprises.
Mr Zhu, who also heads the powerful Economic and Trade Office under the State Council, said that he did not think China's reform record of the past year was remarkable.
Compared with national growth rate, China had not achieved a breakthrough in reforms last year, Mr Zhu was quoted in the pro-Beijing Wen Wei Po.
His blunt remarks contradicted an official report by the New China News Agency which used figures provided by the same conference to say China had ''achieved remarkable progress'' last year.
According to the daily's report, Mr Zhu made clear that Beijing was concerned about abuse of power by economic officials who used their personal relations with retired officials as Beijing relaxed control of enterprises.