Though it is commonly agreed in China that the nation's World Trade
Organization (
WTO) entry will
benefit the country by accelerating its modernization drive,
opinions vary among ordinary people about its impact. A survey
conducted by the
Beijing Youth Daily in Beijing, Shanghai
and Guangzhou produced interesting results.
"Are you optimist about your future after the entry?" Most people
said yes: Some 65.1 percent of in Beijing, 61.7 percent Shanghai
and 61.6 percent in Guangzhou. Asked if China's WTO entry might
produce volatility in the society -- thus asserting a negative
influence on their lives -- 40 percent said that they planned to
put more money aside to meet any possible risks.
In
regard to their expectations about career development after the WTO
entry, reactions were positive but mixed. "I will have more
opportunities," was the opinion of some 64.1 percent of those
surveyed in Beijing; 60.6 percent in Shanghai and 52.6 percent in
Guangzhou. But nearly 50 percent of those surveyed in share-holding
companies and 38.4 percent in state enterprises said that they were
worried about possible layoff after WTO.
What will be the more positive changes people can expect to see
from the WTO entry? Nearly 90 percent of the surveyed thought
medical care would be much cheaper; 89.1 percent believed that they
would have opportunity to visit more foreign countries; 74.8
percent believed that more Chinese families would send their
children to study abroad; 76 percent believed that more Chinese
could afford a car because of a cheaper price; and 71 percent
believed that buying on credit would become popular in China.
As
for advantages that ordinary people might expect from the WTO
entry, 68.6 percent of the surveyed felt sure that more Chinese
could afford the goods of famous foreign brand because they would
be cheaper; 56.9 percent believed that Chinese could be allowed to
buy insurance in foreign insurance companies; and 51.7 percent
expected that Chinese people could purchase stock certificates of
foreign firms.
(Translated by Feng Yikun for china.org.cn from People's Daily
November 20, 2001)