A SUBSTANTIAL amount of planning will remain to ensure fast-paced growth and relatively low inflation, according to senior staff of the State Planning Commission (SPC).
But SPC officials speaking at the end of a national conference on planning gave the reassurance that ''mandatory plans'' would be cut to the minimum and enterprises would become ''principal investment entities'' responsible for their own decisions.
Vice-Premier Zou Jiahua told the meeting yesterday the focus of planning next year would be to ensure ''sustained, high-speed and healthy development''.
Top priority would be accorded to agriculture, particularly guaranteeing sufficient investment in the rural sector.
The central Government would also try to ensure a significant increase in the income of farmers.
The investment structure would be streamlined, with efforts being made by Beijing to prevent excessive investment in fixed assets.
