Veteran economist Gao Shangquan shrugs off criticism of the economic reform process, highlighted by claims that despite the boom times in cities, the public has failed to benefit while special interest groups have reaped the profits.
'It is true that there have been mistakes, such as a small number of people who have sought to advance their own interests in the name of reforms, and we should make rectifications,' he said.
'But it is not fair to point the finger at the reforms for such problems, which can be addressed. Many reform measures have not been put in place and it is not right to deny the goal of the reforms because of some faults.'
For Professor Gao, 77, the debate over China's reforms has been going on since the early years of the open-door policy.
A top government adviser over the past two decades who has staunchly supported market-oriented reforms, he insists he knows where to draw the fine line between pushing the reforms forward and betraying the country's socialist ideology.
The professor was directly involved in orchestrating China's reform policies as vice-minister of the State Commission for Restructuring the Economy from 1985 to 1993. He said Beijing must push ahead with an overhaul of government institutions as the first step in stalled political reforms, which have been blamed for rampant corruption and widespread public discontent.
