CHINESE Prime Minister Li Peng will stress stability and central authority in his Government Work Report to be presented to the National People's Congress when it opens on March 10.
While the final draft of the 15,000-character report is still being fine-tuned, informed sources said the premier would urge the nation's officials and citizens to strike a balance between reform, development and stability.
Top priority will be put on shoring up the centre's authority in the macro-level adjustment and control over the economy, a point that had been made by senior leaders Deng Xiaoping and Chen Yun in Shanghai last month.
The sources said barring 11th-hour changes, Mr Li would recommend a GNP growth rate for 1994 of nine per cent, with the rates for industrial and agricultural development fixed at respectively 15 per cent and at least 3.5 per cent. Inflation should be kept within 10 per cent.
The premier will reiterate the national goal for 1994 that had been laid down by the Politburo recently: ''Seize the opportunities; deepen reform; expand the open door policy; promote development; and guarantee stability.'' An informed source said: ''The accent will be on stability, ensuring that reforms already unveiled late last year would be implemented without exacerbating socio-political problems.'' ''There will not be any new exhortation to quicken reform or development in view of the leadership's fears that too heady a pace might precipitate hyperinflation, unemployment and challenges to the administration.'' Following the recent remarks by Mr Deng and Mr Chen, premier Li will draw attention to the fact that ''without central authority, nothing can be achieved [in economic development]''.
Mr Li will call on the regional leaders to put the overall national situation before local concerns. The premier will specifically warn against provinces and cities competing with each other in boosting their already very ambitious development targets.