Economic growth is not the be all and end all for China, a senior official was quoted on Tuesday as saying, and more effort should be made to improve education, health and the environment.

China has set a growth target of seven per cent for 2004, the same as it had planned for this year during which the economy is now believed to have grown more than eight per cent, the China Daily quoted Ma Kai, head of the State Development and Reform Commission, as saying.

"Economic development is not everything for the government, and we should put more energy (towards) other indicators such as education, health, environment and social welfare," the newspaper quoted Ma as saying.

Premier Wen Jiabao shook hands and chatted with three AIDS patients on Monday in an unprecedented public display of commitment by China to fight the disease.

"I'm sure China can sustain a faster developing pace, but we must realise the challenge if we ignore the rule of sustainable development," Xinhua quoted Ma as saying.

The seven per cent target was aimed at "cultivating a scientific approach to social development", Ma said. ($1 = 8.277 Yuan)

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