problems and measures after China's WTO entry
China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) will not only benefit the country's economic development, but also have far-reaching influences on Chinese society, pointed out a report released by the Development Research Centre under the State Council at a recent forum.
WTO membership will accelerate the modernization of Chinese society and have a positive effect on people's lives. However, it may also exacerbate some existing problems such as unemployment and the widening gap between social classes, said the report.
The government is urged to draft specific laws and policies to deal with coming challenges, ease potential social conflicts and protect disadvantaged groups.
According to the report，the social transformation which began when the country
initiated its opening一up and economic reform policy in the late 1970s will definitely be speeded up by the country's WTO entry.
The strueture of soeiety will witness remarkable changes as labour forces are shifted to meet the demands of the market. When restrictions on movement of the
labour force are removed，employment patterms will change.With more and more people moving to jobs in the service sector and private一Owned enterprises，their numbers will eventually exceed those of people employed in the industrial and agricultural sectors or in State一owned sectors.
With its trade ties with other parts of the world deepening，China should adapt its
industrial strueture to the new situation.The service sector and high一tech and labour intensive industries are likely to witness a further boom，while capital-intensive industries producing products that can also be imported will face a hard time because of stiff foreign competition.
Society will see clearly defined social classes.Such change results from the change
in the distribution of wealth.
But China's WTO entry should generally have positive effects on people's lives，noted the report.
One study predicts that WTO membership will help increase the country's gross domestic produet(GDP) by o.5 per cent annually in the coming 10 years. Such economic development will certainly create more jobs.Tariff cuts will mean lower-priced commodities and better quality services.
The country's WTO entry will also create more freedom and opportunity for personal
choice，said the report.
Citizens' awareness of individual rights and the law will be enhanced as the principle
of equality in the marketplace is promoted.