Learn Chinese: Chinese School - Premier addresses media on major issues

CHINA / Ministry Press Conference

Premier addresses media on major issues
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-03-15 05:41

The following is the detailed excerpts from Premier Wen Jiabao's press
conference at the conclusion of the fourth session of the 10th National
People's Congress (NPC) yesterday.

Premier Wen Jiabao's opening remarks:

Today, I see the journalists, and I think you belong to the minority
compared with the majority who are now watching this conference outside
the Great Hall of the People. I would like to take this opportunity to
say a few words to the general public.

I can see that the general public have shown a keen interest in the
proceedings of the two sessions, to the deputies, the members, the
various news media, as well as to the Internet. The general public have
made their comments and proposals on the work of the government. And I
can see that on people.com.cn and Xinhua News Agency's website, as well
as the Sohu and Sina portals and the website of CCTV, there are the
comments and proposals as well as questions asked by people who surf the
Internet, in their hundreds of thousands.

And some of the people who surf the Internet even ask questions directly
to me, the premier of the country. I could sense the people's
expectations from these comments and proposals. I could also see the
confidence and power of the general public from those comments. Our
country and our nation now stand at a new historical turning point.

In terms of new tasks, we need to be even more sober-minded. We need to
remain firmly on the right course, and we need to work even harder. By
keeping an even more sober mind, I mean that we need to realize that the
achievements we have scored so far are only the very first step in our
modernization drive. The road ahead will be even longer and more arduous.
We need to be cautious and prudent, especially when things are improving.
To think about where danger looms will ensure our security; to think
about why chaos occurs will ensure our peace; and to think about why a
country falls will ensure our survival.

On staying firmer on the right course, I mean we need to consistently and
unswervingly press ahead with reform and opening up. We need to continue
to adhere to the road of building socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Although there will be difficulties on our way ahead, we cannot stop.
Retrogression or back-peddling offers no way out.

On working even harder, I mean we need to be prepared for all kinds of
difficulties and risks. Some of them may be predictable, and others may
not. Our nation has constantly improved itself and remained a vibrant
nation. The reason for this is that we have a resilient, unyielding and
industrious spirit. We must remain fully prepared for a long-term and
hard struggle. Thank you.

Q: I would like to ask why it is necessary to specially set forth the
policy of building a new socialist countryside. What is the relationship
between the policy of building a new socialist countryside and the
previous and consistent policies of the central authorities towards rural
areas?

A: The issues concerning agriculture, rural areas and farmers are
fundamental ones bearing on the overall interests of China's
modernization drive. To answer this question, I would like to share with
you our three major considerations in establishing the policy of building
a new socialist countryside.

In terms of building a new socialist countryside, we mean to place
agricultural and rural work more prominently on our modernization agenda.
And also, we believe that we need to introduce a policy to make
industries nurture the development of agriculture, and make cities
support the development of rural areas.

This move will facilitate our efforts to build a moderately prosperous
society in the countryside and modernize China's agricultural sector.
This is a significant step in terms of the overall modernization of the
country. I would also like to say that we need to strengthen the
development of the countryside and agriculture. This is a key and very
significant step because if we can take this step, it will go a long way
towards boosting domestic demand and consumption in the country. And that
will certainly place China's economy and society on a more solid footing.

In modernizing China's agriculture sector, we need to start with the
improvement of modern agricultural capacity as well as overall
agricultural capacity. The very reason why we focus on the development of
infrastructure and all kinds of social programmes in China's countryside
is to improve Chinese farmers' living and working conditions.

To build a new socialist countryside, we must adhere to the following two
basic principles. First, we need to respect the democratic rights of
farmers, especially their right to independently farm their contracted
land. This means that we need to respect the will of the people in rural
areas. And we need to refrain from coercion or using administrative
means. Second, we need to deliver tangible benefits to farmers. We need
to make a reality of our goal of improving farmers' material and cultural
existence. And we need to use this as a yardstick to measure our progress
and performance. We need to place emphasis on practical results rather
than go in for formalism.

Q: I would like to know that whether the recent moves of the Taiwan
authorities have reached the bottom line of the mainland's Taiwan policy.
Whether the mainland remains ready or will have contacts with the ruling
party in Taiwan, and what kind of new adjustments or changes will be made
to the mainland's policies and positions towards Taiwan? What kind of new
measures will the mainland take this year to develop cross-Straits
relations?

A: An old Chinese saying says that a just cause enjoys abundant support,
while an unjust one finds little support. The leader of the Taiwan
authorities tries to block the opening of the three direct links across
the Taiwan Straits, and has taken measures to restrict the development of
cross-Straits economic ties and trade. This does no good to Taiwan's
economic development, and it undermines the interests of people in Taiwan.

The leader of the Taiwan authorities keeps making trouble, creating
disputes within the island and creating tensions across the Taiwan
Straits. The leader of the Taiwan authorities is forgetting his own roots
and attempts to sever the blood ties of the Chinese nation and the ties
of kinship between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

Such acts by the leader of the Taiwan authorities not only run counter to
the general trends of peace, stability and seeking mutually beneficial
results across the Taiwan Straits, but also go against the general
aspirations of the entire Chinese people, including our Taiwan
compatriots. At the end of the day, the leader of the Taiwan authorities
will lose all popular support for his unjust cause.

The leader of the Taiwan authorities decided to cease the operation of
the National Unification Council and cease the application of the
National Unification Guidelines. He was brazenly provocative over the
one-China principle, and seriously undermined peace and stability in the
Taiwan Straits. His moves are extremely adventurous, dangerous and
deceptive.

We need to stay alert to the fact that they are now intensifying their
efforts to pursue secessionist activities and so-called Taiwan
independence. They are also going all out to pursue their goal of
so-called de jure Taiwan independence through the so-called
constitutional re-engineering.

We are now closely following the ongoing developments and are fully
prepared for all eventualities.

Our commitment to the one-China principle has been consistent and clear.
That is to say, there is only one China in the world. Both sides of the
Taiwan Straits belong to the one and the same China. China's sovereignty
and territorial integrity should always be intact.

On the basis of the one-China principle, we maintain that the two sides
of the Taiwan Straits need to have consultations and negotiations. And
consultations and negotiations will be conducted entirely on an equal
footing. There is no question of one side swallowing up the other.

I would like to take the opportunity to reiterate that no matter whatever
party affiliations they may have, no matter who they are, no matter what
they said or did in the past, as long as they are committed to the
one-China principle, we are ready to have dialogue and negotiations with
them, even including those people from the Democratic Progressive Party
in Taiwan. As long as that party is willing to give up its platform for
the so-called Taiwan independence, we are willing and ready to make
positive responses to their moves and we are willing to have contacts and
consultations with them.

We will never give up our efforts for peaceful reunification. At the same
time, we will never waiver in our opposition to secessionist activities
for so-called Taiwan independence. We will by no means allow Taiwan to be
separated from the motherland.

Q: What is the relationship between the development of Hong Kong and the
development of the mainland according to the 11th Five-Year Plan? What is
the role of Hong Kong's development in China's overall political and
economic development? At the end of September last year, your
administration's terms of office passed the halfway mark. We would like
to know that what achievements you can take joy at most, what kind of
things have moved you most, and what kind of things have saddened you
most?

A: It has been nine years since Hong Kong's return to the motherland. We
can see that the capitalist system in Hong Kong remains unchanged. The
laws and regulations in Hong Kong remain basically unchanged. The freedom
and rights of people in Hong Kong are duly protected. Hong Kong, as it
stands now, is the world's freest and most open economy. Hong Kong is
also the world's shipping, financial and trade centre. These assets are
not only favourable factors contributing to Hong Kong's development, but
also play an important and irreplaceable role in developing the Chinese
mainland. For the past more than twenty years, we have already seen Hong
Kong becoming the fourth largest trading partner of the mainland and its
biggest source of overseas direct investment. I believe, with the
implementation of the 11th Five-Year Plan, more room will be given to
Hong Kong to play a greater role in this process.

Over the past few years, the mainland and Hong Kong have forged a closer
economic partnership through CEPA (Closer Economic Partnership
Arrangement).

Our government is the government of the people. I myself am a son of the
Chinese people. All the achievements we have scored are due to the
efforts of the Chinese people. As for what touches me most, that would be
the popular support for the government. Such support can be expressed in
terms of encouragement or critical opinions from the general public. Such
encouragement and critical opinions are always rendered with warmth and
consistent support for the government. As for what saddens me most, I
think for the past three years, I have not been able to find better
solutions to the matters that most interest the general public. For
example, inadequate and overly expensive medical services, education
services, the housing problem, as well as the safety problem.

Q: On the issue of the countryside, Chinese farmers need more complete
and stronger property rights so they can realize the value of their land
and resist illegal confiscation. What new policies do you have in
consideration on this area?

A: The core issue concerning Chinese farmers falls on the land issue.
China's reform actually started in the countryside. The most important
policy we have adopted is the introduction of a household responsibility
system. According to this system, land belongs to the collective entity
of the villages, and at the same time, the right to production and
farming belongs to the farmers. This is a major feature and major asset
in China's countryside. We also make it clear that we will guarantee the
long-term right to independent farming for the farmers.

Given China's conditions, we must exercise and enforce the strictest
possible arable land protection system in the country. We must protect
farmers' rights to independent farming on their contracted land, and we
must give adequate and due compensation to the farmers whose land is
seized. We believe that the land transfer revenues should be mainly paid
to the farmers affected. We must also follow the laws and regulations and
mete out punishment against those who breach the laws and regulations and
illicitly seize the land of the farmers.

Q: How will you try to convince people that China will become a
responsible player in the international system?

A: China's commitment to peaceful development is determined by China's
traditional cultural heritage, development needs and national interests.
China is already a responsible big country.

Through China's reform and development, we have successfully resolved the
problem of feeding 1.3 billion people in the world, we have successfully
lifted over 200 million people out of poverty. China's development and
stability itself constitutes a big contribution to the peace and
prosperity of the world.

Number 2, through China's own development and practice in this regard, we
have successfully explored a road towards scientific development. That is
to say in China's development, we'll focus also on the conservation of
resources and protection of the natural environment.

Number 3, China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace. The
ideology is not used as a criteria to define friends or foes. We will not
enter into an alliance with any country or country blocks.

Number 4, China pursues a good-neighbourly and friendly foreign policy in
developing relations with its neighbours featuring developing
good-neighbourly ties and partnerships with its neighbours.

Number 5, China takes an active part and safeguards the international
system. We have already joined over 100 international organizations and
acceded or signed nearly 300 international treaties.

Number 6, China stands as a strong force for international peace and
stability on such major regional and international issues bearing on
peace, such as the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and Iranian
nuclear issue. As for the non-traditional security threats as well as the
current major natural disasters in the world, China has also adopted a
co-operative step.

Number 7, China stands firmly against terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

Number 8, after China's accession to the WTO, China has conscientiously
honoured its commitments upon the accession.

Number 9, although China itself is a developing country, it has worked
actively to help others and itself to meet the UN Millennium Development
Goals. We have cancelled debt worth about 20 billion RMB (US$2.5 billion)
for 44 underdeveloped countries in the world. In the next three years, we
are going to offer concessional loans worth about US$10 billion to some
underdeveloped countries. I'd also like to add that China's assistance
has no strings attached.

Number 10, China's military policy is for self-defence and defensive in
nature. The limited increase in China's defence spending is completely
for the purpose of improving the facilities and conditions of our men and
women in uniforms, and improve the self-defence capabilities of our armed
forces.

Even when one day China becomes stronger, China will not interfere in
others' internal affairs, or have adverse impact on others. China will
not seek hegemony in the world. Rather China will play its due role and
discharge its due responsibilities.

Q: Would you explain your government's position on the issue of Internet
censorship in China? And are you satisfied with the way your policy, your
government policy in this regard, is being portrayed for the world at
large?

A: China's Internet has been developing very rapidly all along. As things
stand now, there are over 100 million people in the country who have
access to the Internet. The Chinese Government has all along been
supportive of the development and extensive application of the Internet.

The Chinese Government should subject itself to the democratic
supervision of the general public, including the efforts that we should
make to extensively solicit views from people who surf the Internet. All
kinds of courses and programmes will have smooth development only when
everyone takes up his or her responsibility.

The Chinese Constitution has provided that every citizen in this country
has the right and freedom to use information on the Internet. At the same
time, every citizen in the country should unconsciously and spontaneously
abide by the law and order in order to safeguard the national, social and
collective interests.

China exercises its management over the Internet according to law, and at
the same time we also maintain that the industries in the Internet
business should exercise more self-discipline and exercise
self-management in disputes. The practice of China in the Internet
management is also consistent with the established international
practice. This being said, we should still pay much attention and attach
great importance to drawing upon the international experience in managing
the Internet.

The websites should be able to convey the right message and information.
The websites should refrain from misleading the public or exerting an
adverse impact on social and public order.

Q: If the next Japanese prime minister continues to visit the Yasukuni
Shrine, what kind of measures will the Chinese Government take. Will it
be possible for China to agree to resume the meetings between high-level
officials of the two countries? And, looking at 2006, what are the
factors or elements that may have an impact on the development and
improvement of the China-Japan relationship?

A: Indeed, the China-Japan relationship has run into many difficulties,
which we did not hope to see. The reasons behind these difficulties have
nothing to do with China or anything to do with the Japanese people. They
have to do with the fact that the leader of Japan continues to visit the
shrine where the class-A war criminals are honoured on various occasions.
This has extremely offended the Chinese people and people in the rest of
Asia. Pending a solution to this issue, the China-Japan relationship
could hardly develop in a smooth manner.

As China and Japan are close neighbours, we have an unswerving policy of
developing friendship with Japan that will be passed on from generation
to generation. To further the China-Japan relations, we must follow the
spirit and principle of taking history as a mirror to guide the future
growth of our relations and the three Sino-Japanese political documents
signed since the establishment of diplomatic ties. In order to facilitate
the growth of the China-Japan relationship, I would like to take the
opportunity to stress the following three points.

First, we need to continue the strategic dialogue between the two
governments in order to remove the obstacles that affect the China-Japan
relationship.

Second, we need to strengthen and increase people-to-people exchanges in
order to build mutual understanding and trust.

Third, we need to stabilize and develop the economic relations and trade
between the two countries, and further expand the mutually beneficial
co-operation for win-win results.

Q: I have a question on the environmental pollution. I have this idea
that no matter what kind of achievements you can score in terms of
industrial development, if the water in the cities of the country is no
longer suitable for drinking, probably your achievements at the end of
the term of office will be compromised.

A: You touched upon a very important issue.

It is true that we are now faced with the very serious problem of
environmental pollution and this is a major problem plaguing China's
development. Even till this day, we fail to see a proper solution to this
problem. Talking about the 10th Five-Year Plan, I can tell you that we
have been able to meet the original goals in most of the categories and
at the same time to be honest with you, we fail to deliver on the targets
concerning environmental protection.

We have stressed the importance of taking remedies and measures after
polluting the environment on various occasions and we also stressed the
importance of leaving verdant mountains and clear water to the future
generations in this country. This is not enough in itself. What is
important is that we need to take practical and forceful measures to
follow up on these goals. I think we need to take measures on the
following areas:

First, in formulating development goals, we should not only keep our eyes
on the economic growth rate alone. We need see more the importance of
energy conservation and protection of natural environment.

Second, we must strictly enforce our industrial policies especially in
the development of infrastructure and in the approval of market access to
enterprises. We must not give the green light to the enterprises and
infrastructure projects that waste resources and pollute the environment.

Third, we need to step up our efforts in carrying out the special
environmental and ecological campaign and projects in environmental
protection and resource conservation. Particularly, we need to pay
attention to the protection of major waters, air and non-point pollution
on the land.

Fourth, we need to enforce the law strictly. To protect the environment
according to the law holds the key to the solution of the problem. This
is also among the most difficult part of the job. We need to close down
the enterprises that waste energy and pollute the environment. We also
need to hold those entities, enterprises as well as individuals
accountable for the pollution accidents and incidents that pollute the
environment and cause major losses to the people and society.

Q: In the past three years we have found that more and more restrictive
measures have been taken against the freedom of speech, and particularly
the freedom of the speech on the Internet in this country. We have also
noted that more violence has been used by the public security organs in
dealing with the protesting farmers who have lost their land due to the
land seizures. We'd like to know, do you think such a kind of approach or
practice is appropriate? I'd also like to know that in the past few years
there are quite of a number of major coal mine accidents in this country.
Many people believe that the only way out in this context is to allow the
workers in the country to organize their own trade unions instead of
joining the trade unions that are set up by the companies where they work
for. I'd like to know when the Chinese Government will allow the workers
to establish independent trade unions?

A: Every citizen in this country has the freedom of speech and freedom of
publishing. At the same time, every citizen in this country needs to
abide by the laws and safeguard the national and social interests. China
is now in a period of a rapid economic growth. At the same time this is
also a period with a very high concentration of all kinds of acute
problems. The reasons behind the salient problems are multi-faceted. A
very important reason is that in some localities, there are authorities
who breach the laws and regulations and violate the rights and interests
of the general public. In this context we need to learn how to properly
deal with the conflicts of interests and social problems in the new
context. We also need to stress the following points:

First, we need to take forceful and strong measures to protect the
interests of the general public that has directly to do with people's
lives. We need to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of our people
according to law.

Second, we also need to educate and properly guide the general public so
that they can more and more realize that their legitimate concerns need
to be expressed through legal channels and in lawful formats.

It is true in some industries and in some localities there have been a
number of major or sometimes even extraordinary workplace safety
accidents. We are greatly saddened by the occurrence of those accidents.

In my government's work report, we have already spelt out various
measures of how we are going to strengthen workplace safety. I'd like to
stress here that we need to strengthen the workplace safety, training and
education among the staff in those enterprises. I think the trade unions
at the various levels should and can play their role in safeguarding the
interests of the public and discharging their responsibilities in work
place safety. The trade unions of China are workers' own organizations.
They are not established by any employer.

Q: What are the considerations of the Chinese Government behind the major
resolve to further extend education in the country. And how will the
Chinese government ensure the implementation of these goals.

A: Education is the cornerstone of a modernized country. At the end of
the day, a country's development will rely on the improvement of the
competence of its population. We've already established the education
system throughout the country that focuses on the universalization and
consolidation of compulsory education, the vigorous development of
occupational education, and the improvement of higher education.

I'd like to take the opportunity to stress the importance of education
towards the general public. Most of the people in this world are ordinary
people belonging to the general public. I think the competence of the
general public has the direct bearing on the overall competence of the
country. China is a country with a population of 1.3 billion. And 900
million of the Chinese people live in the countryside. So we have an even
bigger proportion of our people receiving ordinary education.

The very reason of why we put much emphasis on the development of
compulsory education and occupational education is that we would like to
make that education oriented to the general public so that everyone in
this country can enjoy education.

Q: We know that the State-owned commercial banks in this country have
begun to sell some of their shares to foreign partners. There are people
who are quite critical about this move and in their view this is
tantamount to sending the State-owned assets to foreigners and the assets
were sold to foreigners at too low a price. How would you respond to such
critical opinion?

A: The goal in reforming the State-owned commercial banks is to establish
a modern commercial banking system in this country. We also believe that
we need to explore the various and multiple formats of realizing public
ownership. The shareholding system is an effective format of realizing
public ownership. However, introduction of the share holding system is
not the objective in itself, the objective is to improve the corporate
government's structure and to learn and draw upon the advanced managerial
experience and expertise from others so that we can further improve the
management and efficiency of State-owned commercial banks.

In reforming the State-owned commercial banks we need to follow the
following two principles:

First, the State must take a dominant controlling share in the
State-owned commercial banks in order to keep the economic lifeline of
the country in state's hands and fending off financial risks.

Second, we need to strengthen and improve the whole process management in
this reform. We need to step up internal control, regulation and
supervision so as to prevent the stripping of State-owned assets.

Q: Our two countries (India and China) are jointly celebrating 2006 as
the Year of India-China Friendship. Can you kindly express your views on
how we can enhance our strategic relations, mutual trust and friendship
while resolving these differences, especially on the boundary issues?

A: A very important item on the agenda of this friendship year is to
increase the culture exchanges between our two countries featured by the
classic works and cultural traditions of India and China.

I have a belief is when China and India are strong enough to fully bring
out their best, that will usher in a true Asian century. I hope by then
our fraternal and friendly relations will still be vibrant and strong and
will remain dear to the hearts of two oriental nations.

Q:Will we expect a major or substantial revaluation of the Chinese
currency this year?

A: We have established a new RMB exchange rate regime and we will further
build this system, strengthen the exchange rate system and we will expand
the foreign exchange market and allow more flexibility and fluctuation of
the Chinese currency. And we think, according to the current exchange
rate regimes of Chinese currency based on market changes, there is room
and the capacity for the RMB to fluctuate either upward or downward on
its own. It is no longer necessary for us to take one of the
administrative means to affect the fluctuation of the RMB exchange rate
either upward or downward. There will be no more surprises.

(China Daily 03/15/2006 page3)

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Chinese School - Premier addresses media on major issues

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