Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met the press at the Great Hall of the People Sunday afternoon, shortly after the closing meeting of the Second Session of the Tenth National People's Congress (NPC), answering questions given by Chinese and foreign journalists.

 

Premier vows to live up to people's expectations 

 

Premier Wen Jiabao pledged that his government will stand new challenges and live up to the expectations of the people. He called the year 2003 an extraordinary year as China won an "important victory" over the outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome") and scored "obvious achievements" in its economic development. But the achievements are only a reflection of the past, he said.

 

"A wise nation is one good at learning, especially the one that is good at learning from difficulties," Wen acknowledged. The most crucial are the experience, lessons and revelation they have brought about instead of achievements.

 

This year's goal is to maintain a balanced, relatively-fast economic growth, the premier said. The most difficult problems involved agriculture, rural areas and farmers, and what he cares most are matters pertaining to people's interests. 

 

The premier pledged to continue reform, innovation and forging ahead courageously.

 

China will never seek hegemony

 

China does not seek hegemony now, nor will it seek hegemony even after it became powerful in the future, said Premier Wen. China has a history of 5,000 years with both glorious achievements and humiliating sufferings, and the rise of China has been the dream of generations of Chinese, Wen said.

 

China will take full advantage of the good opportunity of world peace to develop itself and at the same time safeguard world peace with its development.

 

The premier said China's rise will be based on its own strength and self reliance, as well as the vast domestic market, abundant human resources and abundant natural resources.

 

Noting China's rise could not be achieved without the rest of the world, Wen said the country must always maintain its open policy and always develop economic and trade exchanges with all friendly countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefits.

 

China's rise, which would require a lot time and probably efforts of several generations, will not stand in the way of any other country, nor pose threat to any other country, nor at the cost of any other country, Wen said.

 

"China does not seek hegemony now, nor will it seek hegemony even after it became powerful," Wen said.

 

Economy at critical juncture

 

The Chinese government is now facing a test no less severe than that posed by the SARS epidemic last year, said Premier Wen.

 

The Chinese economy developed rapidly and demonstrated "more dynamism" last year. But some deep-seated problems in the country's economic structure remained unsolved while new problems such as excessive investment scale, decreasing grain output and an "obvious trend of rising prices" kept cropping up, said the premier.

 

These problems exposed the Chinese government to a test "no less severe" than that posed by last year's SARS epidemic and put China's economy at a "critical juncture", commented Wen.

 

If the problems are properly handled, the "big ship of the Chinese economy" will move forward smoothly or "setbacks" will be "inevitable", said Wen.

 

Public shows great interest in Government Work Report 

 

Premier Wen Jiabao, in an unprecedented move, responded to questions from the Chinese public and teenage students from the United States.

 

The general public, both home and abroad, have shown "great interest" in the Government Work Report he delivered to the national legislature and his press conference at the end of the legislative session, Wen said, noting that they have put forward many questions to him prior to the press meeting, including 54 questions from American teenagers.

 

In response to a question on his work, Wen quoted verses of late Chairman Mao Zedong and an ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan (born more than 2,300 years ago) to express his determination to work harder for the country in spite of numerous difficulties.

 

"I'd like express my gratitude to the public by answering one of the questions," he said.

 

He said that he just received a letter from the United States written by more than 30 students from a Kansas high school who raised 54 questions.

 

"They inquired a lot about China's political, economic, cultural, social affairs and my personal life, including what my favorite food is, whether I practice martial arts and even what the size of my shoes," he said.

 

"They are turning their eyes to China today," the premier said, adding that he is also grateful to the "foreign friends who care about China's construction work." 

 

Taiwan's referendum threatening stability across Taiwan Straits

 

Premier Wen said the referendum scheduled for March 20 by the Taiwan authorities under the pretext of democracy poses a threat to stability across the Taiwan Straits, and challenges the universally acknowledged one-China principle.

 

The premier said he appreciated the international opposition to the referendum, and the open statement on the one-China principle made by the international community, including the United States, is conducive to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

 

"I hope the United States and other countries would honor their commitment to the one-China principle, and make due contribution to maintaining stability across the Taiwan Straits and to China's peaceful reunification," Wen said.

 

The Taiwan issue, left over from China's civil war, is the internal affairs of China, and will eventually be resolved by the Chinese people on their own, said the premier.

 

China has sovereignty over Taiwan, which has been recognized by the international community, he said.

 

Attempt opposed to separate Taiwan from motherland 

 

Premier Wen Jiabao said China will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from the motherland by any means, while striving for peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and greatest efforts.

 

Wen said he would like to have his message taken to Taiwanese compatriots that there is only one China in the world, and the Taiwan Straits can never sever the "blood relations" shared by Chinese both on the mainland and in Taiwan.

 

The mainland will strive to maintain stability across the Straits with the utmost efforts and push for direct mail service, trade, air and shipping services across the Straits, as well as cross-Straits economic, cultural and personnel exchanges, the premier said.

 

The mainland will strive for an early resumption of cross-Straits dialogue and negotiations under the one-China principle and for the eventual peaceful reunification of the motherland, the premier said.

 

Wen said the referendum scheduled for March 20 in Taiwan, which is sponsored by the Taiwan authorities for Taiwan independence under the pretext of democracy, poses a threat to stability across the Taiwan Straits, and challenges the universally acknowledged one-China principle.

 

The premier said he appreciated the international opposition to the referendum, and the open statement on the one-China principle made by the international community, including the United States, is conducive to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

 

"I hope the United States and other countries would honor their commitment to the one-China principle, and make due contribution to maintaining stability across the Taiwan Straits and to China's peaceful reunification," Wen said.

 

The Taiwan issue, left over from China's civil war, is the internal affairs of China, and will eventually be resolved by the Chinese people on their own, said the premier.

 

China has sovereignty over Taiwan, which has been recognized by the international community, he said.

 

Premier confident in energy cooperation with Russia 

 

Premier Wen Jiabao said he was confident in the prospects of energy cooperation with "friendly neighbor" Russia.

 

Although there were some ups and downs in Sino-Russian cooperation in constructing oil pipelines, the premier still believed Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian people will strengthen cooperation with China in "exploring and developing" energy resources such as oil and natural gas, and constructing oil pipelines.

 

The premier described Russia as a "friendly neighbor" sharing a common boundary line of 4,300 km and said "the two countries should be friends forever and never fight again".

 

According to Wen, Chinese and Russian economies are "complementary" and a series of measures have been taken to enhance economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

 

The premier also referred to regular meetings of Chinese and Russian leaders, Sino-Russian Strategic Partnership of Cooperation, and efforts to enhance "political mutual trust", promote "strategic consultation" and strengthen "non-governmental exchanges" between the two countries to prove a "sound momentum" in Sino-Russian relationship.  

 

Party to follow Constitution and law

 

The leading officials of the Communist Party of China and all Party members should play an exemplary role in abiding by the Constitution and laws, said Premier Wen.

 

In response to a question by a German journalist about the amended Constitution, Wen said the Constitution and laws will not be changed according to changes of state leaders or changes in the leaders' attention.

 

He stressed two principles that the Party leads the people in making the Constitution and laws, and leading Party officials and all Party members should play an exemplary role in implementing the Constitution and laws.

 

The amendment to the Constitution is of great significance for China's development, he said, adding that it had just passed at the national legislature's annual session with an overwhelming support, which is a reflection of the will of the entire people.

 

He highlighted the incorporation into the Constitution the important thought of "Three Respects" together with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping theory as the guiding ideology for the Party and the nation, saying that it has profound and far-reaching significance.  

 

Government institutional reform 

 

Premier Wen Jiabao said that without successful political restructuring, there would be no successful economic reform. He mentioned that he set three objectives on government institutional reform since the first day of his premiership.

 

Wen cited the first goal as the establishment of a scientific and democratic decision-making mechanism, including a group decision-making system and consultations with experts and professional people.

 

The second goal is to administrate the country according to laws, he said. "We must prompt the government to administrate the country in line with law, build the clean and honest government, and pursue the combination of the government's power and responsibility."

 

The third goal is to accept supervision from every corner of the society, including the supervision from the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and governments must hear and solicit opinions and views from people and general public, the premier said.

 

Premier pledges continuous support to HK 

 

Premier Wen Jiabao said that the central government will do everything conducive to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and to the common development of Hong Kong and the inland of China.

 

"Our principle is that whatever is conducive to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, to the common development of Hong Kong and the inland, we will actively do it and give our full support to it," he said when answering a question from Hong Kong press.

 

The premier said the central government holds an active attitude toward the upcoming issuance of 20 billion Hong Kong dollars of bonds in Hong Kong.

 

The premier attended a ceremony last June in Hong Kong where the agreement on the Mainland-Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) was signed.

 

Wen reiterated that the central government will unsparingly uphold the principles of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy as well as the Basic Law of Hong Kong.

 

"I sincerely hope that Hong Kong residents can take into consideration the broad situation of the long-term prosperity and stability as well as the long-term and fundamental interests of Hong Kong residents, be united and work together with firm determination for a better future of Hong Kong," he said.

 

State commercial banks face last-ditch battle

 

Premier Wen Jiabao said that in recent years, the state-owned commercial banks have made some progress, but problems are numerous.

 

When answering a question from a journalist of the South China Morning Post, Wen said the biggest problem existing in China's banking system is that the ratio of non-performing loans (NPL) is high, which has reached nearly two trillion yuan, accounting for 20 percent of the total.

 

He also said that nowadays the state-owned banks do not perform very well. The fundamental reasons lie in institution and mechanism.

 

The central government has made a decisive move on adopting a share-holding reform in Bank of China (BOC) and China Construction Bank (CCB) and has injected US$45 billion of capital in the banks. The measures have received generally positive response from home and abroad.

 

"I want to make clear that the banking reform we took this time is to really push our state-owned commercial banks to be the real modern commercial banks," he pointed out.

 

He said the leadership of the two banks must take measures to ensure the safety of the capitals injected by the state, at the same time shoulder the responsibility of lowering the NPL ratio.

 

He also said the management and the competence of the staff inside the state-owned banks is key to the success of the banking reform.

 

"This is our last-ditch battle. We could not afford any failure. We must take decisive measures to ensure a successful reform," he stressed. 

 

Japanese leaders' Yasukuni Shrine visits main problem

 

Premier Wen Jiabao said that Japanese leaders' visits to Yasukuni Shrine, where top war criminals are enshrined, have tremendously harmed the feelings of the people in China and Asian at large, underscoring that it is the main problem for bilateral relations between two countries.

 

China lost more than 20 million lives during the war of Japanese aggression against China, said the premier, whose own family suffered during the war.

 

Premier Wen cited Sino-Japanese relations as "generally good". According to the premier, the average trade volume between China and Japan has been valued at some US$130 billion a year and there is an annual exchange of 3 million people in personnel exchange. There are also more than 200 cities with a yoke of sisterly friendship between the two countries, he noted.

 

He urged Japanese leaders to abide by the three political documents concerning Sino-Japanese ties signed between the two governments, learn lessons earnestly from the history, look forward to the future, do not do things detrimental the feelings of the Chinese people anymore, and not affect the regular exchanges of visits of leaders of the two nations and the normal growth of bilateral relations.

 

China hopes for lasting peace, stability in South Asia

 

China is pleased to see the healthy momentum that has emerged in India-Pakistan relationship and hopes for lasting peace and stability in south Asia, said Premier Wen.

 

China's relationship with any country in South Asia is not targeted at a third country, he added.

 

When asked to comment on China-India relations, the premier said the friendship between the two countries stretched for more than 2,000 years whereas conflicts between them lasted for only two years.

 

He recalled Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to China last year, saying that it indicated the relationship between the two countries had begun developing their relations in a healthy and cooperative way since then.

 

Special envoys from the two countries have already held two rounds of talks on border issues between China and India, Wen said.

 

As long as the two countries stick to peaceful coexistence, respect for each other and mutual understanding, China and India could tackle the problems left over from history and maintain lasting friendship and cooperation, Wen said.

 

Premier vows further crackdown upon corruption 

 

Premier Wen said that the Chinese government will take it as one of its most essential tasks to further step up the fight against corruption in his tenure of office, as it is a "life-or-death" issue for the destiny of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government.

 

"My colleagues and I are willing to be subjected under the supervision by people," Wen made the pledge in response to a question concerning the conviction of a batch of provincial-level officials over corruption charges last year.

 

The government will take three steps to further carry out the anti-corruption drive, Wen said, acknowledging that China will install educational and supervisional rules and regulations to prevent and fight corruption, resolutely punish corrupt officials, halt unethical practices in the public administration, and do well the work closely relating to the interests of the people.

 

Wen also reminded the people of late Chairman Mao Zedong's admonitions six decades ago to the whole Party not to follow suit of some peasant uprising leaders in the Chinese history who turned corrupted once they were in power.

 

"In the past 60 years, many comrades of our Party have stood the test, and there have also been some who didn't and became victimized by 'sugar-coated bullets,'" Premier Wen said. 

 

Premier cites unity, stability as priority

 

Premier Wen said that unity and stability are his overriding concerns.

 

Wen said in response to a question about the incident in 1989 that an important reason for China's tremendous development in the past 15 years was the fact that the Communist Party of China (CPC) maintained China's unity and social and political stability.

 

"A severe political storm occurred in China at the late 1980s and early 1990s," he said. "At a crucial juncture bearing on the country's destiny, the CPC Central Committee, by relying on the whole Party and the people of all ethnicities across the country, continued to uphold the policies laid down following the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee held in late 1978 and successfully steered the general situation of China's reform and opening to the outside world, and safeguarded the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics."

 

The next two decades will be a very crucial, strategic period for China's development, and unity and stability are overriding issues, the Chinese premier said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2004)