|
Premier Wen Jiabao waves to the media after Friday's closing ceremony
of the annual session of the National People's Congress in Beijing. Yang
Shizhong |
From the war on corruption, military spending, global warming to how to
further promote socialist democracy, Premier Wen Jiabao paved the way forward
for China on Friday.
Using part of his nearly two-hour interaction with the press after the end of
the annual legislative meeting, the premier had his frank position on the surge
in corruption cases in China, blaming the over-concentration of power without
effective and proper restraints.
"To address the problem, we must first and foremost focus our efforts in the
institutions and systems," Wen said.
The war on corruption will be unrelenting: "No matter in what areas the
corruption cases are taking place, who are involved and how high-ranking they
are," he said.
He said people were encouraged to "oversee and criticize the government" in
building a socialist democracy.
In particular, matters that need the administrative examination and approval
must be reduced in number, and they must be done in an "open, just and
transparent" manner, he said.
Moving forward, China will focus on political system reform aimed at
developing democracy, in addition to advancing economic reform.
"It is particularly important that we need to make justice the most important
value of the socialist system," he said.
Wen said the government will strive to give everyone
equal opportunity to education, particularly to improve the living standards for
economically disadvantaged groups. 
"If we improve the living conditions of those in difficulty, we improve the
well-being of the whole society," he said
The premier reassured that the country was advancing along a peaceful
development path, with a responsible attitude to the world.
"We are most sincere in our commitment to peaceful development," he said when
asked to comment on Chinese scientists' recent anti-satellite test.
The test did not target or pose a threat to any other country and has not
breached international treaties, he said.
"China always advocates the peaceful utilization of outer space, and opposes
an arms race in outer space," he said.
The nation knows fully well the tremendous sufferings of being enslaved and
subject to foreign aggression, the premier said.
"We have a defense policy that is defensive in nature.
The limited arm forces that China has are completely for safeguarding the
country's security, independence and sovereignty. On this matter, we are
completely transparent." 
Regarding international environmental obligations, the premier said China is
in favor of the Kyoto Protocol. And although as a developing country China had
no obligatory target to meet the protocol, nonetheless formulated a response
plan based on international treaties concerning greenhouse gas emissions.
(China Daily 03/17/2007 page1)
