PREMIER WEN MEETS THE PRESS

On March 14, Premier Wen Jiabao gave a press conference to journalists covering the annual sessions of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature, and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the top advisory body, in Beijing. Wen elaborated on the Chinese Government’s stance on a number of hot social and economic issues. Excerpts follow     

FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS THE PRESS

<正>On March 7,Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang answered questions from Chinese and foreign media about China’s foreign policy and external relations at a press conference on the sidelines of the First Session of the 14th National People’s Congress.Edited excerpts of his remarks follow:     

THE PREMIER PACE

<正>Practical and hardworking,Premier Li Keqiang talks with his delegation members at the sideline of a flurry of meetings with leaders of Central and Eastern European countries during his visit to Belgrade,Serbia,on December 16-19.     

PREMIER ON THE ECONOMY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS

正Editor’s Note:At a two-hour-long press conference at the end of this year’s National People’s Congress session on March 16,Premier Li Keqiang took questions from 17domestic and international media outlets on a wide range of issues.Edited excerpts of his answers are as follow:     

OFF THE CHINESE PRESS

Stock Market ReformsThe China Securities RegulatoryCommission (CSRC) announced it would liftthe controls on new share quotas and open theprices of new shares to market fluctuations inMarch 2001. In China, new stocks are first soldon the primary market. When they are subsequently resold on the regular, or secondary,market, the prices usually rise dramatically.From 1996 to the first half of 2000, theannual profit rate in the primary market was67.72 percent. It hit a record high in 1997 at1…     

OFF THE CHINESE PRESS

Loose-tongued Analysts TargetedThe current overhaul of the domestic stockmarket has gone beyond illegal accounts and col-lusive transactions to restrain loose tongued secu-rities analysts.The China Securities Regulatory Commission(CSRC), the top stock market watchdog, released acirculay discouraging analysts from making irre-sponsible remarks.According to the circular, analysts should notgive investment suggestions based on false infor-mation of inside stories. Nor should they publiclytell…     

OFF THE CHINESE PRESS

Domestic Demand UrgedThe gross domestic product (GDP) in thefirst half of this year rose year-on-year by 8percent, the same as last year's growth rate, according to State statistics. Meanwhile,mar-ket prices in the first five months increased by1.1 percent compared with the same periodlast year.Increased domestic demand has promotedChina's economic growth in the first half ofthis year. Investment in fixed assets increasedby 17.6 percent and total retail sales volumerose 10.3 percent in the …     

OFF THE CHINESE PRESS

Innovationistheimpetusofeconomicgrowth,especiallyintheageofInternet.TheInternetischangingtheclassicalmoldintheareasofproduction,distributionandmanagement.Innovationrefersnotonlytotechnologicalcreationbutalsototheupdatingofconsumergoodsinordertosatisfysurgingdemand.Chinaisadevelopingcountrywithahugepopulation.Sincethepublicdemandsmoreandmoreproductsfordailyconsumption,theabilitytoproducedailynecessitiescouldbeapowerfulforce,drivingtheconsumptionmarketforward,andsupportingthedevelopmentofhigh-t…     

OFF THE CHINESE PRESS

Absorb Labor SurplusAs intensive farming is gaining momentum, theproblem of labor redundancy is becoming more acute.In the rural areas there is a labor force of 450 millionwhile only 250 million are needed for farm work,according to the current productivity. With only 129million of the 200 million surplus involved in townshipand village enterprises, the rest are left to swarm intocities. The rampant inflow of rural labor adds newpressure on public utilities and poses potential threat tosocial…     

OFF THE CHINESE PRESS

Harmful ProtectionismThe recent crackdown on the illegal assemble of automobiles with counterfeit parts hasattracted nationwide attention. These automobiles threaten people's lives because of theirlow quality.Since 1990, the state has called on localgovernments to crack down on such practices.But this problem is far from being addressed.Local protectionism can explain why counterfeiting activities continue. Law enforcementseems weak against this phenomenon. Criticismfrom the public is often …     

OFF THE CHINESE PRESS

A Rewarding UndertakingWhen the International Science EducationFilm Exhibition was held in Beijing, not manymembers of the general public went to watchthe films, the audience mainly being made upof professionals. It was said that the scientificknowledge of the general public should beimproved through further promoting popularscIence.It is hard to see how this might be achievedwhen the poor quality of domestic science education films is plain to see, judging from audience feedback on the fi…     

OFF THE CHINESE PRESS

The Nation's Environment NeedsProtectionChina's recent ecological crises are theresult of underdevelopment in some areas combined with accelerated development of thenational economy as a whole.In certain poor areas, exhaustion of naturalresources and environmental deterioration havebecome the norm as local people are pressed toexploit limited resources in order to survive.In the meantime, the expanding nationaleconomy and rising living standards havecaused most Chinese citizens to consume mo…     

OFF THE CHINESE PRESS

From Monopoly to CompetitionAdministrative monopoly poses a seriousthreat to society. Monopolized sectors hold agreat amount of state assets but have poor produc-tivity. Generally, they are not enthusiastic abouttechnological innovation. Moreover, their sur-charges are not in the interests of consumers andincrease social costs.Being monopolized and unrivalled, these sec-tors force their products and services on con-sumers, despite the fact they often fail to meetconsumers' needs.Currenhy, th…     

VIEWS FROM THE CHINESE PRESS

OpennessEnsuresQualityRecently,thePartycommitteeofKaifeng,acityinHenanProvince,publicizedthebackgroundsof119candidatesforpositionsatthecountyordivisionlevelinlocalmediatoseektheopinionsofthemasses.Thisefforttoreformthesystemofselectingandappointingcadresreceivedanimmediateandwarmresponsefromlocalpeople.Thecommitteereceived223publictip-offsinvolving49candidatesand22othercadreswithin10days.Aftercheckingthefacts,thecommitteehasdecisivelydisqualifiedthreecandidatesandhassuspendedappointmentsof1…     

VIEWS FROM THE CHINESE PRESS

RejuvenatingPlanTheActionPlanforEducationDevelopmentforthe21stCenturyissuedbytheMinistryofEducationundertheapprovaloftheStateCouncilsetsforthnewgoalstobefulfilledbythenationinthecomingcentury.First,topopularizenine-yearcompulsoryeducationforchildrenandtowipeoutilliteracyamongadultsremainthemostimportanttasksofthe21stcentury.Thenewblueprintwillhelptrainskilledlaborers,crucialtoChina'ssocioeconomicdevelopment.Second,vocationaleducationandadulteducationshouldbefurtherdevelopedinordertonurtur…     

VIEWS FROM THE CHINESE PRESS

EducationMustBeMadeProfitableAlthoughgovernmenthasmadestrenuouseffortstopromoteeducationbyexpandingspendinginthepastyears,thenumberofschoolsanduniversitiesstilllagsbehinddemand.Statisticsindicatethatonly61percentofyoungpeoplecangetintoschoolsinChina.Thisfigureisfarbelowtheaveragelevelfortheworld.ThestatusquoofChina'seducationdoesnotmatchitslongeducationtraditionanditsstrategyofrejuvenatingthenationthroughscienceandeducation.Therootoftheproblem,expertsbelieve,liesintheold-fashionedconcepttha…     

VIEWS FROM THE CHINESE PRESS

RegulationsonMedicinestoBeimplementedThemarketingoffakeandsubstandardmedicineshasbeenahardnuttocrackfortheauthoritiesinanumberofplacesinChina.Thecentralgovernmenttightenedqualitycontrolofmedicinesintheearly1990sinordertostopthemakingandsellingoffakeandsubstandardmedicines.Butlargeprofitscontinuetodrivetheillegalindustries.Atpresent,therearenoregulationsforhandlingsuchcases,saidZhengXiaoyu,directoroftheStateDrugAdministration(SDA).ButtheproblemwillbesolvedsoonwhenSDAimplementstheRegulati…     

VIEWS FROM THE CHINESE PRESS

GearupAdministrativeReformWhenChinafirstintroducedtheconceptoftransforminggovemment'sadministrativefunctionsasofMay1986,thegovemmentclearlydefineditasthekeytotheadministrativerefrom.However,tothegovernment'sdisappointment,thereformpackagehasregisteredlittleProgresseversince.Lackofaclearunderstandingoftransforminggovernmentadministrativefunctionsisthereasonfortheabortivereformpackage.Administrativereformrequiresgovernmentofficialstohavelnecessarymacro-control,insteadofdirectadministrativein:e…     

VIEWS FROM THE CHINESE PRESS

TechnicalRenovationVitaltoSOEsAtpresent,mostdebt-riddenstate-ownedenterprises(SOEs)areafflictedwithbackwardtechnologyandlaxmanagement,twomajorproblemshaltingtheirprogress.Intermsoftechnologicalrenovation,althoughsomeenterpriseshavechanneledpartoftheircapitalintoupgradingexpertise,theireffortsandinputstillfallshortofmodemdemands.Giventhis,themainconcernsofreformingenterprisesshouldbefiguringouttheirleadingproductsforthenextcentury,developingnewtechnologies,andattractinginvestmentandtalent.A…     

VIEWS FROM THE CHINESE PRESS

Confucianism'sUniqueRoleLaudedbyExpertsTheCommemorationConferenceforthe2,550thBirthdayofConfuciuswasheldinBeijinglastfall.ConferenceorganizershopedthattheeventwouldkeepsocietyawareofthesignificanceofConfucianthought.Theseven-dayconferencewasheldinQufu,ShandongProvince,Confucius'hometown.LiRuihuan,chairmanoftheNationalCommitteeoftheChinesePeople'sPoliticalConsultativeConference,metwithexpertsattendingthecommemorationconferenceattheGreatHallofthePeople.Li,whoisalsoamemberoftheStanding…