Comments on the State Planning Commission’s Preliminary Proposals for the Development of the Iron and Steel Industry over the Next Eight Years [1] (December 1959) To all comrades: Please read and return directly to Mao. This document is printed according to Mao Zedong’s manuscript.

Note [1]: These comments were written on the Special Issue No. 1 of the “Briefing on Planning Work,” issued by the General Office of the State Planning Commission in December 1959. That issue contained “A Preliminary Proposal Regarding the Rate, Scale, and Regional Distribution of Our Country’s Iron and Steel Industry over the Next Eight Years (1960–1967).” The main points were as follows: (1) Over the next eight years, China’s iron and steel industry will advance steadily at a high rate. In 1959, steel production will reach between 13.7 million and 13.8 million tons; by 1962 it will be around 30 million tons; and by 1967 it may well reach 60 million tons—there is even a possibility of achieving 70 million tons or slightly more. Thus, over these eight years, average annual steel output will increase by 5.8 to 7 million tons, representing an average annual growth rate of 20 to 23 percent. (2) The pace of development of China’s iron and steel industry will not only far surpass that of the United States but also exceed that of the Soviet Union. (3) After eight years of effort, the regional distribution of China’s iron and steel industry will undergo a fundamental transformation. (4) The variety and quality of steel products will meet the needs of the continued rapid advance of the national economy and of cutting-edge industries. (5) Every effort should be made to secure the necessary materials, equipment, and investment to achieve the above-mentioned goals.