Chinese Premier Stresses Order, Ties Economic Reform to Stability

Amid U.S. pressure and appeals from activists that his authoritarian government respect human rights, Chinese Premier Li Peng said Thursday that maintaining political order is crucial.

In his annual report to the nation, Li indicated that the government will not hesitate to slow the pace of economic reforms to maintain order.

Officials are especially anxious to cool off the economy because runaway inflation was a major factor behind the 1989 pro-democracy protests, whose leaders are at the crux of Western concern about human rights in China.

“Economic development is the center of all our work,” Li told the 2,800 delegates at the national legislature. “Social stability, in turn, is an indispensable prerequisite for economic development and smooth progress in reform.”