1.Highlights of Premier Wen's remarks at the press conference
2.Premier: Dalai Lama can never deny what he said
3.China's cabinet urges thorough implementation of gov't work report
1. Highlights of Premier Wen's remarks at the press conference
BEIJING, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met the press Friday after the annual session of the National People's Congress concluded.
Following are highlights of Wen's remarks:
On stimulus package
-- China's stimulus package plan was not fully understood by the world. "Rumors and misunderstanding set the world stock market on a roller coaster ride."
-- The 1.18 trillion yuan from the central government is totally new investment in China's two-year 4-trillion-yuan (585 billion U.S. dollars) stimulus package.
-- China has prepared plans to cope with even bigger difficulties amid the financial crisis and is ready to roll out new stimulus package at any time.
-- Apart from the 4-trillion-yuan package, China will cut tax by 600 billion yuan, raise the old-age pension for retirees, hike the salaries of 12 million teachers, increase farmers' income and provide more subsidies for them, and spend 850 billion yuan on reforming the health care sector within three years.
-- Confidence is still what China needs most to carry out its all-around economic stimulus package. "Confidence can produce courage and strength, only with which can we overcome difficulties."
On foreign reserve, currency
-- "We lent such huge fund to the United States and of course we're concerned about the security of our assets and, to speak truthfully, I am a little bit worried."
-- On the foreign reserves issue, the first consideration is the national interest. But "we also have to consider the stability of the overall international financial system, as the two factors are interlinked."
-- Wen says no country in the world has the right to put pressure on the devaluation or appreciation of the Chinese currency.
On increased contribution to IMF
-- Wen advocates that member countries of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should shoulder responsibilities jointly in accordance with their quotas.
-- Any country's increase of its contribution to the IMF should be considered in the light of their own situations and be based on the voluntary principle.
On support for Hong Kong, Macao
-- Within this year a supplement agreement to the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) will be signed, which will further increase the access to the mainland market for the services sector in Hong Kong.
-- Construction of the proposed bridge connecting Hong Kong, Macao, and Zhuhai will start before the end of this year.
-- "The motherland will always provide the strongest support for Hong Kong and Macao."
On the target of 8 percent economic growth this year
-- China faces difficulties in achieving the goal of 8 percent economic growth in 2009, but it is possible with "considerable efforts".
--"It is just like we need compass on a sailing vessel to know where we are heading for and when we will arrive at the destination."
-- China has three advantages to achieve the target: a huge and expansive market; a reservoir of labor resources and talents; a healthy and stable finance system thanks to reforms over the past decade.
On Taiwan issues
-- The economic ties between the mainland and Taiwan are almost "indiscerptible," and with such close ties, "We should step up cooperation to confront the financial crisis together."
-- "Although I am 67 years old, if it is possible, I would like to go to Taiwan. Even if I can no longer walk, I will crawl to Taiwan."
-- The mainland is willing to have consultations for Taiwan's participation in international organizations for the benefits of Taiwan compatriots.
On fiscal deficits
-- China's fiscal deficit is under control and the government's debt level is safe.
On employment, stability
-- Society remains stable despite a gloomy employment situation amid the global financial crisis.
-- To solve the problem of unemployment, the most important job is to improve support for small and medium-sized enterprises, which hire 90 percent of the labor force.
On political reform
-- China will actively advance reforms of its political system to develop socialist democracy, promote equity and justice and strengthen supervision on the government.
On G20 meeting
-- Assistance to developing countries, especially the least developed countries, should top the agenda of the upcoming G20 meeting in London.
-- As the largest developing country, China had exempted 46 least developed countries from more than 40 billion yuan worth of debts by 2008, and the country's assistance to developing countries had exceeded 200 billion yuan.
-- China will build more hospitals and schools in Africa, allow more African students to study in China, and send more medical staff and teachers there.
Source: Xinhua (www.chinaview.cn)
Extended Reading
1A. Full Text: Report on the Work of the Government
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/14/content_11009548.htm
1B．Full Text: Work report of NPC Standing Committee
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/16/content_11018210.htm
1C. Review: NPC & CPPCC Sessions 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/13/content_11006460.htm
2. Premier: Dalai Lama can never deny what he said
BEIJING, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The Dalai Lama can change his course, but he can never deny what he has said in the past, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said at the press conference Friday.
Commenting on the Dalai Lama's claims that he has never asked Chinese troops and the Han ethnic group to be out of Tibet, Wen said, "These are sheer lies."
The Dalai Lama demanded, in his "five-point peace plan" in 1987 and the "seven-point new suggestions" in 1988, the Chinese troops and military facilities be withdrawn from Tibet. He also demanded to stop the Han ethnic group from settling in Tibet, and that those who have already settled in move out.
"Those are all written words. The Dalai Lama can change his course. But he can never deny what he has said," Wen said.
Stability and development of Tibet has demonstrated the Chinese central government has carried out the right policies in the region, Premier Wen Jiabao said.
"The situation in Tibet on the whole is stable. The Tibetan people hope to live and work in peace and stability," Wen told a press conference on Friday morning, after the conclusion of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC).
"Both China's Constitution and the Law on Ethnic Regional Autonomy safeguard the freedom and rights of people in Tibet, particularly in religious belief," the premier said.
He added that the central government has increased fiscal input to Tibet to accelerate the region's economic development and to improve the well-being of farmers and herders.
"The Tibet Autonomous Region would continue to follow the opening-up policy for the sake of its own development," he said.
Wen said Tibet is an inalienable part of China and issues related to Tibet are China's internal affairs which should not be interfered by foreign countries.
"Our stance toward Tibet is consistent and clear cut," he said, adding the door is always open for talks with the Dalai Lama if he gives up his separatist attempt.
Source: Xinhua (www.chinaview.cn)
3. China's cabinet urges thorough implementation of gov't work report
BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council (Cabinet) called Wednesday for thorough implementation of this year's government work report in face of the worsening global downturn.
Since the 2nd Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, endorsed the report delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao on March 5, it was now the task of the State Council and its subordinate bodies to implement the report, said the meeting chaired by Wen.
Government work this year should follow the main themes of coping with the financial crisis, promoting steady, relatively fast economic development, and fully implementing the stimulus plan to shore up the economy, it said.
Ministries should perform their duties, draw up and execute their implementation plans and coordinate with each other, it said.
The meeting said the global downturn was still worsening, and although some regions and trades in China had shown signs of recovery, difficulties still lay ahead.
It called for the establishment of surveillance and early warning system and immediate actions if problems were detected.
The meeting also approved in principle a medium- and long-term plan for forest fire prevention and a draft law on the armed police.
After further revision, the draft law goes to the NPC Standing Committee for deliberation.
Source: Xinhua (www.chinaview.cn)
