News In Brief

China's premier sounds a call for technology

In a hard-hitting state-of-the-nation address, Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang has called on his country to catch the wave of the world technological revolution, Monitor correspondent Julian Baum reports.

Mr. Zhao's speech Tuesday before the National People's Congress, China's legislature, sounded all the main themes of the government's reformist economic program during the past several years: more encouragement of foreign technology, a more rational pricing system, a restored role for intellectuals, a shift to profit-oriented enterprises.

The prime minister said incomes must be related to individual effort, and China must do away with equalitarianism in distribution.