On March 3rd, the First Meeting of the Twelfth CPPCC was convened in Beijing's Great Hall of the People. Yuan Yafei, chairman of the Sanpower Group and a new member of CPPCC, attended the meeting for the first time, and brought forward two proposals, that of “using the e-commerce industry to create new heights for the expansion of China's domestic demand,” and of “using domestic demand as propulsion and the great force behind China's urbanization strategy.”

 

He continued to say that, affected by the international financial crisis, much of Chinese industry has been impacted to varying extents, but e-commerce, including online shopping, has seen rapid growth in spite of nationwide recession, and become a high point in economic growth. Yuan Yafei urged that the “golden development period” of e-commerce be grasped, to promote the formulation of new consumer models and life styles, and to cultivate a long-lasting momentum in the growth of domestic demand. In terms of urbanization, attention should be paid not only to speed, but more importantly, to quality. Urbanization is not simply increases in population proportions and the expansion of urban areas, but more significantly, it is the actualization of a series of transformations from “rural area” to “urban area”, such as in industrial structures, methods of employment, habitat and environment, and social security. It was suggested that the important function of private capital in urbanization process should be fully utilized. More precisely, more emphasis should be given to the dual power mechanisms of “government pushing” and “market driving” in urbanization, and constructing a new pattern of governmental and civil joint investment.

           

           CCTV News broadcasted Chairman Yuan's acceptance interview on March 3rd.