Wen: Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. As you know, there are more than 2,000journalists from Chinaand abroad covering the NPC and CPPCC sessions. However, due to the limitedseating capacity of this hall, only about 700 of them are present here. I'dlike to use this opportunity to express my thanks to the journalists for theirinterest in China's reformand development as well as their objective and fair coverage of China.

Let me also say, as a matter of fact, every person in China has greatinterest in the affairs of their own country. Yesterday I logged ontoxinhuanet.com and saw hundreds of questions raised by ordinary people, sincethey knew I was going to give a press conference. I was deeply touched by theirinterest in national affairs. Many of their proposals and suggestions narrowedthe serious consideration of the government.

Now the session of the NPC is over, yet the road ahead could be ratherbumpy. We must be mindful of potential problems and get fully prepared for theworst. We must be sober-mined, cautious, prudent especially when the situationis getting a little better.

Our nation has gone through so many disasters and hardships in historythat we are now blessed with the essence of urgency, determination for survivaland aspirations for peace and development. Our country is so big, problems sonumerous and complicated. And we, as a nation, must have courage to overcomedifficulty, confidence to win and dauntless spirit to work hard and prevail.

Today I'm here at this press conference ready to answer your questions.I'll speak from my heart. I'm neither nervous nor afraid.

Xinhua: Last year, you said macro-regulation was a new and severe task for the government. It was no easier a task than fighting against SARS. Now that a year has passed could you comment on last year's work with regard to macro regulation? Could you speak to new features and characteristics of macro regulation for this year? Will you intensify the policy measures?

Wen: In the past couple of years, we have been facing a battle of contact in terms of economic development. To fight this battle, we have combined a series of policies. We can say now these policy measurers have achieved remarkable results.

We have been successful in avoiding major ups and downs in the economy, preventing excessive price hikes, keeping prices at a stable level and maintaining steady and fairly rapid economic growth. Now we must not slacken in our efforts in the slightest way. The situation we are facing now is like going upstream. If we don't forge ahead, we will be left lagging behind. Let me put the problems we face in proper prospective.
First, the foundation for macro regulation needs to be consolidated further. We face considerable difficulty in further raising grain output and increasing farmers' income. In particular, because of price rises in capital goods, it is more difficult for us to achieve these goals in terms of increasing grain output and farmers' incomes. Moreover, investment growth in fixed assets may pick up again. Coal, electricity, oil and transportation are in short supply. In the first two months of this year, power generation has increased by 12 per cent. Yet 25 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities experienced blackouts. In the economy, the supply chain is overstretched.
Second, we are facing a series of dilemmas in our economy. For example, a slow economic growth rate won't do, because it would make it more difficult for us to create jobs, increase revenue, and engage in necessary undertakings for society. Yet too fast economic growth rate won't do either, because it may make the economy to stretched out for a long time in an unsustainable situation.
Third, the problems we face in China's economy can all boil down to structural problems, growth patterns and institutional problems. All these deep-rooted and underlying problems will take time to be addressed. In a word, the top priority for the government is to further strengthen and improve macro regulative policy measures in order to sustain a steady and fairly rapid economic growth rate.
If a journey is 100 miles, travelling 90 is half of it. We must not stop and we must not waste our previous efforts. In the meantime, we must also take special attention to differentiated treatment for different situations. We must take both administrative and economic means to achieve macro regulative objectives.

Bloomberg: A lot of social problems have cropped up in the course of rapid economic development in China, and one of them is the wealth gap. To address problems facing agriculture, rural areas and farmers is top on your agenda. But some people are saying unless farmers are granted the right to use land or they are transferred the ownership of the land, it is impossible to solve the problems. Do you think it is possible to grant farmers land use rights or give them the ownership of the land?

Wen: China's reform started in the countryside. China's rural reform started with the right to manage land by farmers. In the countryside, land is under collective ownership. In the early days of the reform and opening up, the first step we adopted in the countryside was to set up the family contract responsibility system. Farmers were given the right to manage their land, and such rights of the farmer have been extended time and again. Now I can say directly that farmers' autonomy to manage their land won't change for a long time. Actually it will never change.

ERA News from Taiwan: The just-concluded session of National People's Congress adopted the Anti-Secession Law by an overwhelming majority. The passage of the new law has been a subject of great interest to many people. People are especially interested in a section of the law which provides for continued exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits.
My questions are: Under the framework of the new law, what specific measures will the State Council adopt to promote the continued exchanges?
Moreover, there are many business people from Taiwan living in cities on the mainland, either doing business or they have already settled down. Will this law affect their interests? If not, will the law actually turn out to be promoting and protecting their interests?



Wen: Let me first ask you a question: "Have you read the law?"

ERA News: I have some knowledge of the law and I've read the explanatory notes related to the law.
Wen: I must thank this journalist from Taiwan for raising this question.
First of all, let me send my greeting to the 23 million compatriots in Taiwan.
Your question actually gets to the essence of this law. This law is meant to strengthen and promote cross-Straits relations. This is the law for the peaceful reunification, and it is not targeted against the people in Taiwan, nor is it a war bill.
The law has clearly provided for promoting personnel exchanges, encouraging and facilitating economic co-operation, including "three direct links" between the two sides, encouraging and facilitating exchanges between the two sides in educational, scientific, technological and cultural fields.
The law has also provided for protection of the legitimate rights and interests of Taiwan business people.
The law is matched to check and oppose Taiwan Independence forces.
Only by checking and opposing Taiwan independence forces, will peace emerge in the Taiwan Straits.
Peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits will create favourable conditions for Taiwan business people to invest in the mainland and also for foreign investors to come to the mainland.
You ask for specific measures, that is, according to the recent important remarks made by Party Secretary-General Hu Jintao on the question of Taiwan, we will protect the legitimate rights and interests of Taiwan business people in the mainland; for anything that is conducive to the people of Taiwan, we will do it.
First, we should promptly make cross-Straits charter passenger flights available not only on traditional festivals, but also on a more permanent basis.
Second, we should adopt measures to address the issues related to sales of agricultural products from Taiwan, especially, southern Taiwan to the mainland.
Third, we should promptly solve problems so that fishermen from the mainland can continue their contract labour services in Taiwan. There are other favourable policies and convenient measures we will adopt for this purpose.

Reuters: The renminbi question has been the focus of world attention, with many foreign trading partners urging China to adopt a more flexible exchange rate. China has said it could be a long term process, but what reform plans do you favour now? And, when will the first change occur?
Wen: China's exchange rate reform actually started in 1994 and it has not stopped even today. Our objective for the reform is to create a market-based, managed and floating exchange rate.
When we consider reform plans, our purpose is to make the exchange rate more responsive to supply and demand in the market. What we have been doing is to lay a solid foundation for such reform. A number of necessary conditions would include first, macroeconomic stability and growth, and second, a healthy financial situation.
In the meantime, we have already eased many of the controls on foreign exchange.
When we talk about change in the exchange rate regime, or revaluation of the renminbi, we have to ask questions like what impacts these measures will have on China's economy and Chinese enterprises, and what impacts they will have on our neighbouring countries and other countries in the world. On these issues, no agreement has been reached.
Frankly speaking, many of the people who have been strongly urging the revaluation of the renminbi haven't given much thought to the problems that would arrive from doing so.
China is a responsible country. When we decide upon the revaluation of our currency, or reforming our exchange rate regime, we must take into consideration not only our domestic interests, but also possible impacts on neighbouring countries and the world.
Finally, let me say that work related to exchange rate reform is in progress. Regarding the timing of the reforms and measures to be adopted, maybe they will come around unexpectedly.

China Central Television: You have spoken on many occasions that the economic priority for 2005 is to further promote reform and you have called this year "a year of reform." In your report on the government's work, you emphasize that the task for this year is to deepen reform unswervingly, and to remove the structural integument to economic growth. Then in your view, what are the most urgent issues to be addressed this year?
Wen: Right, I have said on many occasions that this year is "a year of reform."
I said so for three reasons: First, to eliminate the destabilizing and unhealthy factors in the economy and to solidify the achievements of macro regulations will have to rely on reform.
Second, to address the deeply rooted problems in the economy and achieve a restructured transformation of the economic growth pattern will rely on reform.
Third, to realize social fairness and justice and build a harmonious society will also have to rely on reform.
Reform is not a task for any single year. It is going to be a long-term task. And, in many cases with regard to reform, "sooner is better than later." Otherwise the problems will become too entrenched to unravel.
For this year, there are five priorities in our reform.
First, to restructure government bodies and to transform the functions of the government.
Second, to promote State-owned enterprise reform, focusing on corporate governance and share-holding systems.
Third, to promote financial reform, which is a critical and often problematic aspect of our economy and requires great efforts from us.
Fourth, rural reform. Centring on reform of the rural taxes and administrative fees, the purpose is to change those elements in the superstructure in the rural area that are no longer consistent with the economic phase.
And fifth, social security reform. We must step up the development of a social security system that is suitable for China's reality. This is a year of reform, but it is not only so. It is a year we are going to fight the toughest battle in the reform process.

Ming Pao: The central government has all along hoped for stability and prosperity in Hong Kong. Now that the economy has picked up, society has been stabilized in Hong Kong. Why, at this moment, has the central government accepted the resignation of Mr Tung Chee-hwa? What are your expectations of the Acting Chief Executive Mr Donald Tsang?
Wen: I would like to thank you for your question. The resignation of Mr Tung Chee-hwa has been the focus of attention among compatriots in Hong Kong. As you said, in the past more than seven years since China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, the principle of "one country, two systems" has been implemented in real earnest. The capitalist system in Hong Kong has not changed, the law in Hong Kong has basically been intact, and the way of life there has been the same.
In particular, I wish to point out that Hong Kong has overcome the difficulties brought about by the financial crisis and achieved economic recovery and a higher living standard for its people.
Mr Tung has resigned for health reasons. I believe he has been sincere and he will win the understanding of people in Hong Kong and respect of the central government.
In the past seven years, Mr Tung has done tremendous and creative work for the implementation of the principle of "one country, two systems," the Basic Law and for continuing the prosperity and stability in Hong Kong.
He is hard-working, he has few complaints and he has the courage to take responsibility. He has demonstrated in his work a strong sense of responsibility to compatriots in Hong Kong and to the country.
I believe history will treat him fairly for his efforts and contributions. I believe compatriots in Hong Kong shall never forget what he has done.
After his resignation, the election of the new chief executive will proceed in strict accordance with the Basic Law and other laws in Hong Kong. I believe people in Hong Kong are fully capable of running Hong Kong well.
The central government is steadfast on the principle of "one country, two systems," Hong Kong people administrating Hong Kong and a high degree of autonomy.
We will strictly follow the Basic Law. At this moment I hope our compatriots in Hong Kong will work together with one accord for better development and I hope they will do an even better job for continuing the prosperity and stability in Hong Kong.

ITAR-TASS: In the latter half of this year you are going to meet the Russian prime minister. Could you brief us on the latest development in economic co-operation and trade between China and Russia, especially in the energy sector? Any programmes?
Wen: China and Russia are friendly countries toward each other, sharing a border of 4,000 kilometres long.
Over the years, the relationship between the two countries has grown better than ever before.
Last year, the two countries identified principles for developing a strategic partnership of co-ordination.
We worked out programmes on the implementation of the Sino-Russian Treaty on Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Co-operation, and set a goal for US$20 billion in trade by the end of this year. And this volume is to be further increased to between US$60-80 billion by 2010.
China and Russia have solved a historical legacy on the boundary issue, laying a solid foundation for greater development of bilateral ties in the future.
In the latter half of this year, I am going to meet the Russian prime minister for a 10th regular meeting. We are going to discuss further issues related to economic development and trade between the two countries, in particular energy co-operation. With regard to energy co-operation, I wish to make three points.
First, energy co-operation between China and Russia is an important component to the overall friendly relationship between the two countries.
Second, energy co-operation between our two countries is based on equality and mutual benefit.
Third, there are already important agreements concerning energy co-operation. We have agreed to increase Russian oil exports to China through use of railways.
The targets are 9 million tons for 2004, 10 million tons for 2005 and 15 million tons for next year.
The Russian Government and President Putin have made it very clear that preference will be given to China when they build the Siberian oil gas pipeline. We have also targeted the possibility of co-operation in oil and gas development.
In addition, efforts have been made in other areas of economic co-operation and trade.

一看就头晕,这么多!!!!!!!!!

　　　看到前面就晕了，后面的就不知道是什么了