Premier sees Guangdong's proposal as 'magic tool' to meet party goals
Premier Wen Jiabao added weight yesterday to Guangdong leaders' calls for 'thought liberalisation' by stressing that it was much needed if the province is to maintain its pioneering position in the nation's reform and modernisation drive.
At a meeting of Guangdong NPC members, Mr Wen also told Sichuan native Hu Xiaoyan - one of the three migrant workers elected as deputies to the National People's Congress - that her dreams would come true one day after she expressed concern over employment opportunities for migrant workers and education for their children.
Mr Wen's remarks on 'thought liberalisation' are widely seen as reflecting the central leadership's recognition of the concept, first advocated by Guangdong party boss Wang Yang. Few state leaders have publicly commented on it.
Some critics have suggested that such a movement is likely to be restricted to provincial-level administrations - such as Guangdong and Shanghai, which have long acted as pioneers for the country's economic development - because of the danger of setting off wider calls for reforms if it becomes a national policy.
'Thought liberalisation is one big magic tool in the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics,' Mr Wen told the delegation yesterday.