Just before the “Two Conferences” (the Chinese National People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference), Xinhua News Agency and Economic Information Daily conducted a joint survey on the most concerned issues among Chinese people. The poll started on February 7, 2005; and ended on March 5, 2005. 218,754 people cast their votes. Each participant could select 8 to 10 items from the questions listed below. The vast majority of people (75%) would like the government to save the stock market, as China has had a prolonged bear market since 2001.
1. How to get the stock market out of hot water.
75%, 165,987 votes
2. Combating corruption and promoting an honest government.
22%, 49,349 votes
3. Establishing a system to prevent infectious diseases and other public health crises.
20%, 43,956 votes
4. Arbitrary collection of education fees and an unfair city public school application process.
18%, 40,709 votes
5. “Agricultural, Rural and Farmers” issues, especially the need to raise farmers’ income.
18%, 40,486 votes
6. The widening wealth gap and unjust income distribution.
15%, 33,630 votes
7. Employment, re-hiring and social security issues.
11%, 25,308 votes
8. How to eliminate the unfair regulations created by industry monopolies and how to eliminate monopolies.
11%, 24,342 votes
9. Formulating the anti-secession law and promoting reunification of the motherland.
11%, 25,448 votes
10. Social order and public security.
10%, 22,135 votes
11. Preventing the loss of state assets that occur during state-owned enterprise privatization and reform.
9%, 20,472 votes
12. Environmental protection.
7%, 16,634 votes
13. Preventing counterfeit goods, especially products involving food safety and inspection.
7%, 15,500 votes
14. How to construct a harmonious society based on scientific development and humanistic principles.
6%, 14,686 votes
15. What will the market trends be in 2005? How will housing and vehicle costs change?
5%, 11,393 votes
16. How to standardize countryside relocations and compensate peasants for their farmland loss.
4%, 10,199 votes
17. Educating Party members on how to be good leaders; enhancing the Party’s ruling ability.
4%, 10,027 votes
18. How to prevent and reduce workplace accidents.
4%, 10,228 votes
19. Alleviating coal, electricity, and oil shortages and easing transportation problems.
3%, 7,617 votes
20. Strengthening macroeconomic regulations, analyzing and controlling the current rate of economic development.
1%, 4,063 votes
Source: http://forum.xinhuanet.com/vote-view.jsp?id=1181