k force and an irrational population structure. To achieve sustainable development, the issue of population development and family planning must be addressed first. Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership has been moving the economy from a sluggish Soviet-style centrally planned economy to a more market-oriented economy but still within a rigid political framework of Communist Party control. To this end the authorities have switched to a system of household responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization, increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprise in services and light manufacturing, and opened the economy to increased foreign trade and investment. The result has been a quadrupling of GDP since 1978. In 1999, with its 1.25 billion people put a GDP of just $3,800 per capita, China became the second largest economy in the world after the US. Our success or failure will have a direct bearing on the country's economic and social security, the quality of people's lives and the long-term development of China, and the president said. the current capacity of nursing homes falls far short of demand. Furthermore, those old people who need in-house help are often left helpless. A major reason for the underdevelopment of these facilities is a lack of funding and a low level of income. Thirty-three percent of the respondents in the survey said they could only afford a monthly fee of less than 300 RMB (US$40); 20% said they could afford 300-400 RMB; 13% between 400-500 RMB; and 33% 500-800 RMB. On the other hand, 37% of those surveyed said their monthly income is less than 300 RMB. Some had unemployed children. . This is evident in the fact that 366 (61.8%) of the country's 592 officially designated impoverished counties, which are eligible for government funds for poverty alleviation, are located in west China in 1998. China's per capita share...
