Zhu Rongji's Historic Moment | News Feature 08/13/2026

朱镕基的历史时刻｜新闻特写20260813 本期历史新闻特写全景式回顾了朱镕基从1988年参选上海市长到出任国务院总理期间的重大历史时刻与执政足迹。内容生动展现了他坦承自身“右派”经历与性格短板、在总理就职时立下“地雷阵与万丈深渊”庄严誓言的政治风骨，以及直面亚洲金融危机、力推积极财政政策、坚决精简政府机构和大刀阔斧整顿金融秩序的铁腕手腕。影像还真实记录了他在中美入世谈判中顶住国内外阻力展开“消气外交”、在记者会上针锋相对驳斥人权指控与“中国威胁论”，以及任期末期坦然盘点“一个确保、三个到位”施政答卷的历史现场。 朱镕基系统回顾应对亚洲金融危机与大洪灾的宏观调控经验，强调通过发行长期建设国债带动数万亿元基建投资，不仅未留坏账反而形成了高质量优良资产。 (80:26) 针对政府效能与吏治，朱镕基推进国务院系统编制核减50%（精简1.6万人），并直言自己严厉的作风“只吓唬贪官，不吓唬老百姓”。 (92:53) 在中美与入世谈判中，朱镕基阐述了通过重大妥协倒逼国内国企改革的战略考量，并积极推动美国国会通过对华永久正常贸易关系（PNTR）。 (53:00) 朱镕基坦言任内最感揪心和头疼的难题是八亿农民的增收困难，必须通过调整农业结构、退耕还林补偿及税费改革来逐步化解。 (99:16)

[34:55] 朱镕基: 我们可能存在不同看法，只有能讲出不同看法的才是最好的朋友，才是真正的朋友。 [115:59] 朱镕基: I never intimidate the common people; I only intimidate corrupt officials. [27:02] 朱镕基: 我们是在共产党的领导下，一直在同独裁和反动统治作斗争来争取人权的，我们今天怎么可能反过来去镇压人权呢？

[0:00] Official mayoral candidate Zhu Rongji [0:02] says, [0:04] According to the assembly's [0:05] arrangements, I am to introduce myself. [0:13] I may exceed the time limit set by the [0:15] assembly, because I feel that if I [0:17] don't speak, I won't be able to get [0:19] past this hurdle. During the Great [0:30] Mingming [rectification] period, [0:32] comrades demanded that since I was the [0:34] secretary to the top leader of the [0:36] Party group, if you don't offer [0:38] opinions to the Party group, then who [0:40] will? They insisted that I provide them [0:43] . So, I spoke at that bureau meeting [0:46] for no more than three minutes. [0:51] Unexpectedly, by October, they told me [0:53] —even though before October they felt [0:56] my opinions were quite good—that [0:58] after October, they said I needed to [1:00] reconsider those opinions. By January [1:06] of 1958, I was labeled a Rightist. [1:14] However, their treatment of me was [1:16] still very lenient, because I believe [1:18] the leaders and comrades at the State [1:20] Planning Commission knew me very well. [1:24] There was absolutely no other issue. [1:29] Therefore, besides being removed from [1:31] my position and demoted by two grades, [1:33] I was expelled from the Party. But I [1:38] still remained at the State Planning [1:40] Commission. By the later stages of the [1:44] Cultural Revolution, almost all cadres [1:46] of the Planning Commission, except for [1:48] a few dozen in an office group, were [1:50] sent down to farms to perform labor. I [1:54] performed labor on a farm for five [1:56] years. Those five years were a [1:58] tremendous education for me. Yes, [2:01] indeed. Even though we were a [2:05] collective farm and still cadres of the [2:07] State Planning Commission, being in the [2:09] countryside gave me an understanding of [2:11] rural life and an appreciation for [2:13] labor. In those five years, I learned [2:22] to do everything: growing wheat, cotton [2:25] , and rice, herding cattle and sheep, [2:27] raising pigs, and working as a [2:29] purchasing agent—I've done it all. [2:36] Now, this, I am still...I think a [2:45] characteristic of mine, my creed, is [2:48] independent thinking; I feel I should [2:50] speak exactly what is on my mind. I am [2:55] an orphan. My parents died very early; [2:59] I never met my father, and I have no [3:01] siblings. So, I found the Party in 1947 [3:06] , and the Party is my mother. Therefore [3:10] , I wholeheartedly treat the Party as [3:12] my mother. That is why I have no [3:15] reservations about what I say; if I [3:17] believe something is beneficial to the [3:20] Party, I will say it. As for the [3:22] consequences, I do not care. Even [3:25] though I was wrongly handled, the Third [3:27] Plenary Session of the 11th Central [3:29] Committee restored my political life. [3:32] At the same time, one could say it also [3:34] rejuvenated my political youth. I don't [3:39] think I am the best candidate for Mayor [3:41] of Shanghai. I have many shortcomings. [3:49] In many respects, I lag far behind my [3:51] predecessors, especially Comrade Jiang [3:54] Zemin. I will state three points. First [3:59] , I only have experience working in [4:01] leading organizations, not at the [4:03] grassroots level. As I said, I spent 25 [4:07] years at the State Planning Commission. [4:11] Basically, including very short stints [4:13] in other departments, ten years were at [4:15] the State Economic Commission. My [4:18] grassroots experience, as I just [4:20] mentioned, was only for a very short [4:22] period in a local district. I have [4:25] never served as a head of a factory, [4:27] nor as a leader of a county or district [4:30] . Comrade Jiang Zemin was a factory [4:33] director very early on, and a big [4:35] factory at that. I didn't come up from [4:39] the rural grassroots, so I lack much [4:41] knowledge about the hardships of the [4:43] people; this is a significant weakness [4:45] of mine. I fear I may still make some [4:48] decision-making mistakes in these areas [4:50] in the future. Second, I only have [4:52] experience with central government [4:54] agencies and no experience working in [4:56] local government. I have never worked [4:58] at the local level. I have always been [5:04] based in Beijing, so since coming to [5:06] Shanghai, I have truly had more gray [5:08] hair in these three months than ever [5:10] before. Comrade Jiang Zemin predicted [5:15] that all my hair would turn white [5:17] within a year. That is his personal [5:20] experience, and I am already feeling [5:22] that threat. This work is truly complex [5:26] and truly difficult to do. Comrade [5:29] Zemin once said his nerves were always [5:31] in a state of tension, and now I truly [5:33] understand that. Third, I am very [5:38] impatient. This shows a lack of [5:43] leadership talent and character. I am [5:47] too anxious for quick success in my [5:49] work. I am too demanding of [5:51] subordinates and too harsh in my [5:53] criticisms. On this point, I should [5:58] learn well from Comrade Zemin; I am [6:00] quite similar to you. I am similar to [6:04] Comrade Rong; we both have this [6:05] temperament. [6:08] You are much better than me. Neither of [6:15] us has bad intentions, but we can be [6:17] sharp when speaking to officials. I [6:24] hope you have one—Comrade Song Ping [6:29] had a talk with me before I came here. [6:31] He said that being strict with [6:33] officials is not a shortcoming. [6:37] But when you criticize people, do not [6:39] hurt them. Do not be too cutting in [6:43] your speech. [6:45] This was all earnest advice regarding [6:47] my shortcomings, suggesting I should [6:49] learn from Comrade Zhou Enlai. So that [6:53] after criticizing comrades, they feel [6:55] they deserved the criticism. And feel [6:57] that it comes from your care for them. [7:01] I truly lack that kind of leadership [7:03] quality, and of course, I hope comrades [7:05] will supervise me. I want to reform, [7:11] but to be honest, it is hard to change [7:13] one's nature. It is not easy to change [7:21] my shortcomings, but I am determined to [7:23] correct them well. I think the most [7:29] important thing for Shanghai right now [7:31] is to implement things in a [7:32] down-to-earth manner. We must practice [7:37] what we preach, instead of just [7:39] proposing many new goals and [7:40] requirements; we already have enough of [7:43] those. Right, the priority now is to [7:48] work in a practical and solid way. [7:51] Setting expectations too high leads to [7:53] disappointment, and once morale is lost [7:56] , it’s hard to build it up again. [7:58] Because when expectations are too high, [8:00] they are often hard to achieve, and we [8:02] must consider the objective conditions. [8:04] It is very difficult to achieve [8:06] everything all at once. So, comrades, [8:09] looking at recent reports, the [8:11] expectations are indeed a bit too high. [8:17] Honestly, I haven't been able to sleep [8:19] at night; for many nights I've been [8:21] sleepless, feeling the weight of this [8:23] responsibility. Therefore, what I want [8:29] to say is that Shanghai cannot promote [8:31] short-termism. We cannot encourage [8:35] short-term behavior. We will eventually [8:38] suffer for it if we do. To avoid losses [8:41] , we must have a long-term view, so I [8:43] think the goals proposed in Comrade [8:45] Zemin's report are realistic. It is [8:48] possible for us to achieve them, or [8:50] even achieve them ahead of schedule. If [8:52] they are set too high, we won't be able [8:54] to reach them. Next, I would like to [8:57] make a few points. First of all, to be [8:59] clear, I have only been here for three [9:01] months; I am neither Zhuge Liang, nor [9:03] can I emerge from my hermitage like he [9:06] did. Because the Wenhui Bao once had a [9:09] requirement that a mayoral candidate [9:11] must be able to "pass five passes and [9:13] kill six generals,""capture the city," [9:15] and "emerge from the thatched cottage." [9:20] In three months, I cannot emerge from [9:22] the thatched cottage. If I were elected [9:27] mayor, the first thing is, I am [9:28] determined to make the next government [9:30] a brand-new one that serves the people [9:33] wholeheartedly, stays clean, and is [9:35] highly efficient. This is my pledge. I [9:59] saw the latest issue of Time magazine [10:01] yesterday, which featured my photo on [10:03] the cover; compared to the Newsweek [10:05] cover that also used my photo, the Time [10:07] photo looks a bit better, and I am [10:09] grateful for that. But I don't mean to [10:20] complain at all, because I have never [10:21] been particularly handsome to begin [10:23] with. Regarding the question you raised [10:27] about democratic elections, I, of [10:29] course, support it. I believe an [10:37] American foundation has already come to [10:39] China to investigate this kind of [10:41] village democracy and has published a [10:43] very positive opinion. Moreover, this [10:50] democratic system is now being [10:52] implemented not only in rural areas but [10:54] also in enterprises—for instance, [10:56] democratic evaluation of factory [10:58] directors, democratic auditing of [11:00] financial accounts, and democratic [11:02] election of leaders are being practiced [11:04] in many firms. I believe this " [11:09] three-pronged democracy" is a very good [11:11] direction to move in. Of course, [11:16] conducting democratic elections in [11:18] government institutions, including [11:20] electing premiers and chairmen, is a [11:22] matter of political structural reform. [11:27] I believe this must be carried out [11:29] through certain legal procedures. The [11:32] procedures for such democratic [11:34] elections are different in China [11:36] compared to foreign countries. They are [11:39] also different between the East and the [11:40] West. I think this issue requires [11:43] further study. As for when such [11:47] elections might be realized, it is [11:48] difficult for me to predict now. Thank [11:51] you. [11:52] I am a reporter from China Central [11:54] Television. First, I would like to [11:55] congratulate the newly appointed [11:57] Premier and Vice Premiers. My question [11:59] is: regarding China's reform and [12:01] development, the next five years are [12:02] critical. As the new Premier, what do [12:06] you think is the most urgent problem [12:08] that needs to be solved? What is the [12:11] most challenging issue? Some public [12:15] opinion suggests your work style is [12:17] bold and stern; do you agree, and how [12:19] would you describe your own work style? [12:22] Thank you. [12:25] Your question is asking for my policy [12:27] platform, but I don't know if everyone [12:29] present has the patience to hear me out [12:31] . Actually, the tasks for this [12:36] government were already clearly stated [12:38] in President Jiang Zemin's report at [12:40] the 15th National Congress of the [12:41] Communist Party of China last year. The [12:47] speeches just delivered by President [12:48] Jiang Zemin and Chairman Li Peng have [12:50] also laid out specific provisions for [12:52] this government's tasks. If you want me [13:03] to be more specific, I can summarize [13:05] the things this government currently [13:06] faces into one guarantee, three [13:08] requirements, and five reforms. One [13:25] guarantee is that, because we currently [13:28] face the Southeast Asian financial [13:30] crisis and China faces serious [13:32] challenges, we must ensure China's [13:34] growth rate reaches 8%this year, [13:35] inflation stays below 3%, and the RMB [13:38] does not depreciate. This must be [13:51] achieved, as it concerns not only [13:52] China's development but also the [13:54] prosperity and stability of Asia. This [13:58] government believes Revitalizing the [14:04] country through science and education [14:06] is this government's greatest task. [14:13] President Jiang Zemin attaches great [14:15] importance to revitalizing the country [14:17] through science and education and has [14:18] repeatedly clarified its importance, [14:20] but why haven't we implemented it well? [14:27] Where did the money go? Well, first, [14:33] our government institutions are bloated [14:35] , consuming the budget and eating up [14:36] all the money. Second, under government [14:47] intervention, many blind and redundant [14:49] projects were built; projects worth [14:51] billions or tens of billions found no [14:53] market after completion, instead [14:55] dragging down existing enterprises. [15:05] This is why the central treasury, [15:07] including our banks, cannot pull out [15:09] money to support science and education [15:11] to revitalize the country; the money [15:13] has been wasted. Therefore, this [15:20] administration is determined to [15:21] streamline government agencies by [15:23] cutting staff by half, while further [15:25] implementing the policy of halting [15:27] redundant construction; we will not [15:28] allow duplicate projects, and by saving [15:30] that money, the strategy of [15:32] rejuvenating the country through [15:33] science and education can be realized. [15:40] Rejuvenating the country through [15:41] science and education. The difficulties [15:47] facing China have been greatly [15:49] exaggerated. When we speak of the [15:52] loss-making proportion of China's [15:54] state-owned enterprises being over 40%, [15:56] it is calculated based on the number of [15:58] individual firms. There are 79,000 [16:02] industrial enterprises in China. You [16:07] see, some of these are very small, with [16:09] only a few dozen people; when using [16:11] this number for statistics, the scale [16:13] of losses is naturally high, but I ask [16:15] you to take note. Among them, 500 [16:27] extra-large state-owned enterprises [16:29] account for 85%of the total tax revenue [16:31] and profits generated by all state [16:33] enterprises, and the loss rate for [16:35] these five hundred extra-large firms is [16:38] only 10%, which is about 50 enterprises [16:40] . Therefore, we believe that, overall, [16:51] three years will be enough for [16:53] loss-making state-owned enterprises to [16:55] overcome their difficulties. The [17:01] Chinese government speaks highly of the [17:03] policies adopted by the Hong Kong [17:05] government; we do not believe they have [17:07] encountered insurmountable difficulties [17:09] . However, if under specific [17:25] circumstances the Hong Kong government [17:27] needs the help of the Central People's [17:28] Government, as long as the Hong Kong [17:30] SAR government makes a request to the [17:32] Central Government, the Central [17:33] Government will spare no cost to [17:35] maintain Hong Kong's prosperity and [17:37] stability and protect its linked [17:38] exchange rate system. Whether the [17:55] outside world calls me "China's [17:57] Gorbachev,""economic tsar," or whatever [17:59] else they want, I am not pleased by any [18:01] of it. Currently, my thoughts. Since [18:18] the people's representatives have [18:20] entrusted me with this heavy [18:21] responsibility at this National [18:23] People's Congress, I personally feel [18:25] the weight of this task and am very [18:26] anxious, fearing that I might fail the [18:28] expectations of the people. But. [18:45] Regardless of whether there are [18:46] landmines or deep abysses ahead, I will [18:48] forge ahead courageously and without [18:50] hesitation, dedicating myself fully [18:52] until my last breath. Although I carry [19:03] a heavy mental burden, I still have [19:05] great confidence, provided we hold high [19:07] the banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory. [19:17] Under the leadership of the Party [19:19] Central Committee with Comrade Jiang [19:20] Zemin at its core, and by relying [19:22] closely on the people across the [19:24] country, I believe this administration [19:25] will be invincible. Thank. You. I will [19:40] leave this time for the reporters to [19:42] ask questions. I will say only one [19:45] sentence. You are all welcome to ask me [19:48] any questions; there are no [19:49] restrictions at all. Can the Renminbi [19:53] become a world currency? This question [19:59] should not be answered by me, and it is [20:01] too early to say, but I can say one [20:03] thing: the Renminbi is very firm and [20:05] will not devalue. Thank you. Over the [20:12] past year, I have felt it was very [20:14] difficult. These difficulties exceeded [20:18] my expectations. The first is due to [20:23] the impact of the Asian financial [20:24] crisis. Yes, I originally did not [20:28] expect it to be this severe. The second [20:34] is a historic and exceptionally severe [20:36] flood disaster, which also exceeded my [20:38] expectations. However, what satisfies [20:46] me is that under the leadership of the [20:48] Party Central Committee with Jiang [20:50] Zemin at its core, and by relying on [20:51] the efforts of the people nationwide, [20:53] we have weathered these two [20:55] difficulties. We have made it through. [21:05] This has not been easy. Therefore, in [21:10] my government work report, I said that [21:12] "this has not been easily won." What I [21:18] am dissatisfied with is that my own [21:19] work has not been done well enough. But [21:24] I also feel that there are certain [21:25] departments and regions, or perhaps [21:27] individual departments and regions, [21:29] that have not strictly......followed [21:35] the policies of the Central Committee [21:37] and the State Council. What moved me [21:46] the most was when I visited the front [21:47] lines of flood defense, seeing our [21:49] People's Liberation Army disregarding [21:51] all dangers to protect our people, [21:53] using their own bodies to reinforce the [21:55] levees; I could not help but feel moved [21:57] . Thank you. Since the mutual visits of [22:15] the heads of state of China and the [22:17] U.S., our two nations have begun [22:18] striving to build a constructive [22:20] strategic partnership. The development [22:35] trend was originally very good, but for [22:37] various reasons—which you know [22:39] without me saying—a trend of opposing [22:41] China has emerged in the United States, [22:43] which makes us feel very uneasy. I do [22:55] not believe that my visit to the United [22:56] States will be...However, it is true [23:04] that I will encounter a great deal of [23:06] hostility or an unfriendly atmosphere. [23:14] On February 22nd, BusinessWeek [23:16] published an article titled "China: [23:18] What's going wrong?" This article...... [23:27] is extremely...It suggests that China [23:33] is already facing disaster and [23:34] bankruptcy. As if China were already [23:38] facing an imminent catastrophe. I have [23:42] never before seen an American magazine [23:44] publish such an article. I think the [23:51] appearance of such an article reflects [23:53] the current trend in the U.S., which is [23:55] actually a result of internal U.S. [23:57] political struggles, using China-U.S. [24:03] relations as a sacrificial lamb. I have [24:10] also become a victim, as they printed [24:12] my photo on the cover of that magazine, [24:14] and I look like a dead person. Under [24:20] this kind of atmosphere......my [24:24] upcoming visit to the United States is, [24:27] of course, a very difficult task. Many [24:33] media outlets have predicted that my [24:35] visit cannot succeed, that it is [24:36] impossible for it to be a success. But [24:44] I am still going, because since you are [24:46] angry, I will go to clear the air with [24:47] you. China's policy of strengthening [24:59] macroeconomic regulation began in 1993, [25:01] at a time when China was intensifying [25:03] its reform and opening-up and had [25:05] achieved tremendous results, but at the [25:07] same time, a certain degree of [25:08] overheating had occurred, particularly [25:10] in real estate development zones and [25:12] the stock market. This......kind of [25:24] overheating led to the inflation in the [25:26] following year, 1994, reaching 21.7 [25:29] percent. At that time, Mr. Deng [25:32] Xiaoping was still with us. With his [25:36] support, the Party Central Committee, [25:38] with Comrade Jiang Zemin at its core, [25:40] decided to strengthen macroeconomic [25:42] regulation and control. We adopted 16 [25:45] measures, 13 of which were economic [25:48] measures. Among those 13, 11 were [25:55] related to banking and financial [25:57] policies. Thanks to the implementation [26:10] of these 16 measures to strengthen [26:12] macro-control, China resolved the issue [26:14] of economic overheating in just over [26:16] two years, restored its original [26:18] development momentum, and achieved [26:19] great success in socialist construction [26:21] . I believe the reason China was able [26:33] to avoid the impact of the Asian [26:35] financial crisis last year......is that [26:37] we had already experienced a similar [26:39] financial crisis in 1993. Fortunately, [26:47] we curbed it before it could spread, [26:49] and having gained that experience in [26:51] macro-control is exactly why we could [26:53] stand firm during last year's financial [26:55] crisis. Mr. Zhou Fei just mentioned the [27:02] issue of human rights; I think many [27:04] reporters present here are also [27:06] thinking of asking me this question. [27:10] Well. Almost every foreign guest who [27:17] meets with our Chinese leaders brings [27:18] up the human rights issue, as if they [27:20] couldn't explain themselves back home [27:22] if they didn't discuss China's human [27:23] rights. Therefore, after I have [27:30] repeated myself so many times on this [27:32] issue, today I really...I only want to [27:45] mention one thing: when U.S. Secretary [27:47] of State Albright recently met with me [27:49] during her visit to China, I told her, [27:51] "My history of participating in the [27:52] movement to strive for and safeguard [27:54] human rights is much longer than yours. [27:56] " She said, "Really?" Meaning she [28:08] disagreed with my point, she asked, " [28:10] Really?" I said, "Yes." Is it......not [28:18] true? I said I am ten years older than [28:24] you. When I was risking my life [28:33] participating in the struggle against [28:34] the Kuomintang regime to safeguard [28:36] human rights and strive for democracy, [28:38] freedom, and human rights in China... [28:40] ...you were still studying in middle [28:41] school when I was involved in this [28:43] movement. I said that we actually share [28:52] many views on human rights. In middle [29:00] school, I studied French literature and [29:02] learned about the social contract [29:03] theory from textbooks, ah! And [29:13] Rousseau's works; so, the concepts of [29:15] human equality and human rights were [29:17] things I knew long ago. We were [29:26] influenced by China's May Fourth [29:27] Movement, a movement that fought for [29:29] democracy and science. Therefore, under [29:41] the leadership of the Communist Party, [29:43] we have always been struggling against [29:45] dictatorship and reactionary regimes to [29:47] advocate for human rights. How could we [29:58] possibly turn around and suppress those [29:59] human rights today? And only we know [30:07] how to realize the protection of human [30:09] rights in China. Of course, it's not [30:14] that we don't have shortcomings on the [30:16] issue of human rights. It's impossible [30:19] to have no shortcomings, because China [30:21] has been a feudal and dictatorial [30:23] society for thousands of years. Add to [30:26] that the colonial mentality. It's [30:30] impossible to have no shortcomings. The [30:34] People's Republic of China has only [30:36] been established for 50 years; compared [30:38] to thousands of years, how could we [30:39] have solved all the problems? But we [30:43] are willing to listen to opinions from [30:45] all sides, especially the opinions of [30:47] our own people. We are looking at our [30:50] people every day. On how to satisfy [30:54] their wishes and realize their demands, [30:56] we are also willing to listen to [30:57] international friends; therefore, we [30:59] have many channels for dialogue. We [31:03] have channels for human rights dialogue [31:05] with the United States, the European [31:07] Union, and Australia. Our work on human [31:13] rights is ongoing every day. I meet [31:21] many international friends; as soon as [31:23] we meet, they pull out a list and read [31:25] these names to me, asking how many [31:26] people you have detained? Will you [31:30] release them? These are pro-democracy [31:33] activists. I say, we have 1.25 billion [31:36] people, we have criminals every day, I [31:38] am catching people every day, I don't [31:40] know who you are talking about, give me [31:43] the list, I will go back and check, [31:45] okay? Is that alright? The National [31:55] People's Congress that just concluded [31:57] passed amendments to the constitution, [31:59] adding content about governing the [32:00] country according to law and realizing [32:02] socialist rule of law; we are [32:04] legislating every day, the NPC Standing [32:06] Committee is legislating, and our State [32:08] Council is also legislating every day; [32:10] the State Council's legislation is [32:12] called administrative regulations. We [32:19] are strengthening our rule of law every [32:21] day to protect the human rights of all [32:23] our people. We will continue to do so. [32:31] We welcome foreign friends to criticize [32:33] our work. But you shouldn't be too [32:35] impatient. I am more impatient than you [32:38] are. You shouldn't support those [32:42] pro-democracy activists, should you? If [32:46] you let those people return, China will [32:48] have no rule of law and no democracy; [32:50] it is not as you imagine. I can share a [32:55] secret with everyone. That is, I was [32:59] indeed treated very well in Russia. You [33:10] saw on TV when President Yeltsin met [33:12] with me, he took my hand and placed it [33:14] on his chest; do you know what he was [33:16] saying? He said, Chairman Jiang Zemin [33:23] is my best friend, and you are also my [33:25] best friend. Chinese people value [33:34] courtesy, so I quickly placed his hand [33:36] on my chest and said, we are friends [33:38] worthy of trust. There is another thing [33:45] you didn't see because the reporters [33:46] had already left. That is, when our [33:54] talks ended, President Yeltsin came [33:56] over and hugged me tightly, and the two [33:58] of us cheek-to-cheek. I think this [34:06] simply shows that we are sincere [34:08] friends. I believe that this visit to [34:13] the United States will also be met with [34:15] a similar result, a warm welcome, [34:16] rather than a minefield. Of course, [34:27] perhaps President Clinton and I might [34:29] not embrace, but we may shake hands a [34:31] bit more firmly. Mr. President, Mrs. [34:55] Clinton, ladies and gentlemen. In this [35:06] season of spring, the delegation of the [35:08] People's Republic of China, at the [35:09] invitation of President Clinton, has [35:11] come to your beautiful country for an [35:13] official friendly visit, and I feel [35:15] extremely......very happy. Entrusted by [35:25] President Jiang Zemin, I bring the best [35:27] wishes and sincere greetings from 1.25 [35:29] billion Chinese people to the great [35:31] American people. Over the past 18 [35:40] months, President Jiang Zemin and [35:41] President Clinton have achieved [35:43] successful mutual visits. They decided [35:49] to establish a constructive strategic [35:51] partnership. This friendly and [35:58] cooperative relationship is in the [36:00] interests of the peoples of China and [36:02] the U.S., in the interests of the [36:03] people of the world, and in the [36:04] interests of world peace and [36:06] international cooperation. The Chinese [36:15] people will work tirelessly for [36:16] generations to unswervingly consolidate [36:18] and develop this relationship. The [36:27] United States is the largest developed [36:28] country in the world, and China is the [36:30] largest developing country. We are both [36:37] members of the United Nations Security [36:38] Council. The close cooperation between [36:45] our two countries lays a solid [36:47] foundation for world peace and the [36:49] prevention of conflicts. The United [36:57] States is a nation that loves freedom, [37:00] is open, self-reliant, and full of [37:02] vitality. China is a nation that loves [37:09] peace, is industrious, wise, honest, [37:12] and self-respecting. The friendship [37:21] between our two countries, built on the [37:23] foundation of the three joint [37:24] communiqués, joint government [37:26] statements, and solemn mutual [37:27] commitments, is unbreakable and cannot [37:29] be sown with discord by anyone. Between [37:38] China and the United States, there is [37:40] no issue that cannot be resolved [37:42] through friendly consultation. We may [37:51] have different opinions; only friends [37:53] who can speak their different opinions [37:55] are the best friends; only true friends [37:57] are true friends. Ladies and gentlemen, [38:07] spring is a season for sowing seeds, a [38:10] season of hope. When we arrived in your [38:18] "Sunshine City" of L.A., it was raining [38:20] , but when we left, the rain had [38:22] stopped and the sky was clear; when we [38:24] arrived in Washington, it was...... [38:32] Ladies and gentlemen. [38:34] As we sow the seeds of China-U.S. [38:40] friendship once again in this beautiful [38:42] and fertile land, I cannot help but [38:44] remember the pioneers who forged [38:46] China-U.S. friendly and cooperative [38:54] relations—both the Chinese and [38:56] American pioneers; some have passed [38:58] away. Some are still with us. I must [39:09] express my highest respect and deepest [39:11] nostalgia for their historical vision, [39:13] wise and resolute decisions, and [39:15] persistent dedication. I love the [39:23] Chinese people. I love the American [39:27] people. Thank you. I have met with two [39:41] U.S. congressional delegations, one led [39:43] by Mr. Thomas, and one by Mr. R. The [39:46] delegation they led consisted of 20 [39:48] senators and representatives. I told [39:56] them at the time, "The political [39:58] atmosphere there is so anti-China that [40:00] I dare not visit." The congressmen told [40:09] me, "You should still come; we welcome [40:11] you, and we like your face." Regarding [40:19] the unification of Taiwan, the Chinese [40:21] government has repeatedly stated that [40:23] we will try our best to use peaceful [40:25] means, but we have never renounced the [40:27] use of force, because if we were to do [40:29] so, Taiwan would be separated from [40:31] China forever. I just saw a portrait of [40:38] President Abraham Lincoln in President [40:40] Clinton's office. Back in the day, to [40:46] preserve the integrity of the United [40:48] States and oppose independence and [40:49] secession, President Lincoln did not [40:51] hesitate to use force; we should learn [40:53] from him. The earliest pioneer of our [40:59] missile technology was Mr. Qian Xuesen, [41:01] who returned from the United States; [41:03] the pioneer of our nuclear technology [41:05] was Mr. Qian Sanqiang, who returned [41:07] from Madame Curie's laboratory in [41:09] France. But I can assure you that when [41:15] they returned, they didn't take a [41:16] single piece of paper with them, just [41:18] their knowledge. At a press conference [41:28] in March, I said: please do not [41:29] underestimate your own security and [41:31] confidentiality capabilities, and do [41:33] not underestimate the Chinese people's [41:35] ability to develop military technology [41:37] themselves. When I was in Los Angeles, [41:46] the mayor's wife asked me over dinner, [41:48] "How do you plan to celebrate the 50th [41:50] National Day?" I said we are going to [41:54] hold a grand military parade. At that [41:59] parade, we will display China's most [42:01] advanced weapons. And these weapons [42:05] were all developed by China itself, not [42:07] stolen from the United States. I think [42:13] this reflects that some of you look [42:15] down on us too much. If political [42:21] contributions could really be effective [42:24] , I have 146 billion dollars in foreign [42:26] exchange reserves, so I could at least [42:28] use 10 billion to do this work; why [42:30] would I only use 300,000 dollars? [42:35] It’s too stupid. I have heard that [42:40] some people here are engaged in [42:41] lobbying work and have spent a lot of [42:43] money, but I have never believed this [42:45] rumor; I believe we should reach a [42:46] consensus through mutual discussion and [42:48] even debate. This is beneficial to the [42:53] people of both China and the United [42:55] States, and it is good for both of us. [42:58] I think regarding the concept of human [43:00] rights, the Chinese philosopher Mencius [43:02] said, "The people are the most [43:03] important, the state comes next, and [43:05] the ruler is the least important." He [43:09] talked about human rights much earlier [43:10] than Rousseau in France or the American [43:12] Declaration of Human Rights. I think [43:16] that not only does the concept of human [43:18] rights have a historical development, [43:20] but every country also has different [43:21] circumstances. For instance, the gap in [43:29] per capita national income between us [43:31] and the United States is twenty-fold, [43:33] and the proportion of university [43:34] students in China is much smaller [43:36] compared to the proportion of [43:37] university students—and even primary [43:39] school students—in the United States. [43:48] With such different levels of education [43:50] and national income, I believe their [43:51] concepts of human rights are also [43:53] different. If you talk about direct [43:59] elections to people who are very [44:00] impoverished, I am afraid they are more [44:02] concerned with other aspects of human [44:04] rights, such as the right to education, [44:06] the right to survival and development, [44:08] and the right to enjoy culture, [44:09] entertainment, and healthcare. I think [44:14] human rights should encompass all these [44:16] aspects. Every country has its own way [44:20] of improving human rights. Being [44:22] anxious won't help; to be honest, I am [44:24] much more anxious than you are about [44:26] how to improve the human rights [44:28] situation in China. Third, I admit that [44:31] there are shortcomings in our human [44:33] rights work. Because you have to [44:36] consider that China has thousands of [44:38] years of feudal shackles, and people's [44:40] mindsets are very hard to change. The [44:48] educational level of our legal [44:50] personnel and their ability to judge [44:52] cases are also limited; under such [44:54] circumstances, it is unrealistic to [44:56] expect human rights work to be [44:57] perfectly flawless. We have already [45:10] visited five US cities, from Los [45:11] Angeles to Washington D.C. to Chicago, [45:13] and arrived in New York last night. [45:25] When I was interviewed by CNN this [45:26] afternoon, the reporter asked me, " [45:28] Which city do you like the most?" I [45:36] replied that I liked them all, and she [45:38] said, "You are a diplomat." But today I [45:42] can say here—though don't spread it [45:44] outside—that I like New York the most [45:46] . I. Saying this comes from the bottom [46:02] of my heart, because when I visited the [46:04] UN this morning, I passed by the East [46:05] River and saw the high-rise buildings, [46:07] which reminded me of...So I think it is [46:24] really the New York of China. We [46:28] consider this visit to be very [46:29] successful. Although every member of [46:34] our delegation was prepared to be [46:36] battered and bruised in the United [46:38] States. I sought advice from our [46:44] Ambassador. How can I avoid getting [46:49] battered and bruised? He said, "You [46:53] have to always keep a smiling face." [46:57] But I have a bad temper; if you ask me [46:59] to put on a smiling face, I just can't [47:01] do it. However, even without putting on [47:05] a smiling face, I was still [47:06] well-received by the American people. [47:11] Therefore, I feel that the friendship [47:13] between the people of China and the [47:15] United States has a very deep [47:16] historical and popular foundation. [47:22] Because of the friendly relations [47:24] between the peoples of China and the [47:25] United States, this policy is the [47:27] consistent policy of both American [47:29] parties, the Republican and the [47:30] Democratic. Although our bilateral [47:38] relations are currently facing some [47:40] difficulties and setbacks, I firmly [47:42] believe that these setbacks and [47:44] difficulties are just a tiny episode in [47:46] the long history of China-US friendly [47:47] relations. We hope this small dark [47:57] cloud will pass, and that the bright [47:59] sunshine of China-US friendly relations [48:01] will return. During this visit, our [48:16] government delegation had a very [48:17] friendly and candid conversation with [48:19] President Clinton in Washington, and I [48:21] believe we have achieved constructive [48:23] results. Regarding the issue of the WTO [48:30] , we believe we have also made [48:32] significant...I believe that we are [48:38] both nearing the completion of our [48:40] negotiations on China's accession to [48:42] the WTO. According to some in the US, [48:48] 95%has been completed; in my view, 99% [48:51] has already been completed. Today at [49:03] noon, I had lunch with American bankers [49:05] , and at this meeting, I spoke with my [49:07] old friend, Mr. Greenberg. I told him [49:23] that when I was Mayor of Shanghai, I [49:24] allowed AIG to establish its branch in [49:26] Shanghai, and at that time, I was once [49:28] accused by a certain official of being [49:30] a traitor. However, since AIG entered [49:46] China, not only has AIG developed very [49:48] well in China, but our own insurance [49:50] companies have learned many management [49:52] methods from AIG. But letting them set [50:07] up branches in other parts of China [50:08] still encountered many obstacles. Even [50:18] though I was already Vice Premier, I [50:20] still could not satisfy Mr. Greenberg's [50:21] request, so he said he had gone from [50:23] being a young girl to now being an old [50:25] woman. How much longer must we wait? [50:44] However, we have now approved AIG to [50:47] establish branches not only in Shanghai [50:49] and Guangzhou, but also in Shenzhen and [50:51] Foshan. I told him to wait a little [51:03] longer, and it won't be long—at least [51:05] before you retire, you will be able to [51:07] have your branches anywhere in China. [51:16] Please do not misunderstand, I am [51:17] talking about AIG, but actually, I am [51:19] talking about all American companies. [51:34] Therefore, I feel that there is no such [51:36] thing as a "China threat theory," and [51:38] it should now be renamed. What kind of [51:50] threat could China possibly pose to the [51:52] United States? According to President [51:56] Clinton, the US has 6,000 nuclear [51:58] weapons, while China has only a few [52:00] dozen. I do not know how President [52:06] Clinton knows that China only has a few [52:08] dozen. I truly do not know how many [52:18] nuclear weapons China has, but I [52:19] completely agree with his opinion. You [52:22] have many nuclear weapons, while we [52:24] have very few. Therefore, we cannot [52:27] possibly pose any danger to the United [52:29] States. China's per capita GNP is [52:37] dozens of times lower than that of the [52:40] U.S. Even in 30, 40, or 50 years, we [52:42] will still be far behind the U.S., so [52:44] we will always be a market for the U.S. [52:46] We are definitely not your potential [52:48] rival, let alone your enemy; we are [52:51] friends you can trust. I am very glad [53:00] you raised this question. I will indeed [53:07] face difficulties in China, so I tell [53:09] everyone here that we have made the [53:10] greatest concessions, which cannot be [53:12] talked about back home. Our Chinese [53:20] newspapers won't publish it, but Hong [53:22] Kong newspapers said that my coming to [53:24] the U.S. is just to bring a big gift to [53:26] President Clinton. I told them, "Please [53:30] do not say that anymore; if this [53:32] continues, it will be very unfavorable [53:34] for President Clinton. This is a [53:36] political contribution." But honestly [53:50] speaking, we have indeed made [53:52] concessions, and very significant ones [53:54] at that. Is it that we must join the [53:58] WTO, and we wouldn't be able to survive [54:00] without it? That is not the case. We [54:05] have negotiated for 13 years, and [54:07] during these 13 years, China has not [54:09] only survived but thrived. If we cannot [54:13] reach an agreement, we can still wait. [54:17] Then why did we make such large [54:18] concessions? First, we are acting from [54:21] the overall perspective of friendly and [54:24] cooperative China-U.S. relations. At a [54:29] time when there is unhappiness toward [54:30] China in the U.S., we hope that by [54:32] reaching this agreement, we can promote [54:34] the development of China-U.S. friendly [54:42] cooperation and further advance the [54:43] constructive strategic partnership [54:45] established by President Clinton and [54:47] President Jiang Zemin. Second, because [54:57] of the success of the reform and [54:59] opening-up policy established by Mr. [55:01] Deng Xiaoping, China has developed to a [55:03] point where our ability to withstand [55:05] the impact that WTO accession will have [55:07] on our state-owned enterprises, [55:09] economic structure, and market [55:10] competition has been greatly [55:12] strengthened. At the same time, the [55:20] awareness of the Chinese people has [55:22] also greatly improved. They have begun [55:27] to realize that only by introducing [55:29] such competitive mechanisms can we [55:30] better promote the development of our [55:32] own state-owned enterprises and foster [55:34] a healthier and faster development of [55:36] our national economy. I can tell you a [55:46] story: when I invited Mr. John Fisher [55:48] and his KLA-Tencor Corporation to [55:50] cooperate in China years ago, I was [55:52] once again labeled a traitor by a [55:53] certain person in authority. But over [56:04] these two years, Intel's significant [56:06] investment in China has boosted the [56:08] development of China's chip industry. [56:15] That person who called me a traitor [56:17] recently came to me during the Spring [56:19] Festival and said, "I was wrong before. [56:20] " I believe I will not be called a [56:26] traitor for a third time in the future. [56:28] Therefore, I believe this kind of [56:30] concession is beneficial to both China [56:32] and the United States. Thank you. I. [56:38] Believe that building a nation under [56:40] the rule of law is an urgent task for [56:42] China. So, in the most recent session [56:51] of the Standing Committee of the [56:52] National People's Congress, which is [56:54] like your Congress, we passed an [56:55] important amendment to China's [56:57] constitution, specifically emphasizing [56:59] governing the country according to law, [57:01] to build China into a nation under the [57:03] rule of law. When I was in the United [57:10] States, many friends asked me about the [57:12] issue of human rights in China. I first [57:16] told them that human rights in China [57:18] have made unprecedented progress in [57:20] history. At the same time, I also admit [57:24] that there are still many shortcomings [57:26] in our work on human rights. We are [57:28] willing to listen to the opinions of [57:30] our friends to improve the human rights [57:32] situation in China. Everyone knows that [57:38] President Jiang Zemin and China's [57:40] leaders, including myself, have long [57:42] been engaged since our youth in [57:43] striving for democracy, freedom, human [57:45] rights, and the rule of law for the [57:47] Chinese people. How could we, who have [57:54] done this, turn around today to [57:55] infringe upon or suppress human rights? [58:00] Please understand that China is [58:01] different from the United States. China [58:04] has 2,000 years of feudal history, [58:06] while the People's Republic of China [58:08] has only been established for 50 years. [58:12] Our people's living standards are [58:14] dozens of times lower than yours, and [58:16] our people's level of education is also [58:18] dozens of times lower than yours. In a [58:22] country like this, adopting your form [58:25] of democracy entirely is impossible. To [58:31] implement the rule of law, we must have [58:33] a strong judicial team and a [58:34] sufficiently large number of qualified [58:36] judges. We also need many qualified [58:43] lawyers, though unfortunately, you have [58:45] too many lawyers in the United States. [58:51] I. So, it is not that we fear democracy [59:00] , nor that we are unwilling to [59:02] implement the rule of law, and [59:03] certainly not that we want to infringe [59:05] upon human rights. We must gradually [59:11] improve based on China's conditions, [59:13] and gradually make China a...Human [59:24] rights in China are improving every day [59:26] , and the human rights enjoyed by the [59:28] Chinese people today are unprecedented [59:30] in history. We still have shortcomings, [59:37] and we are constantly improving. Our [59:42] Congress, the National People's [59:44] Congress, recently amended our [59:46] constitution. In it, it specifically [59:51] stipulates that China will build a [59:53] nation under the rule of law and govern [59:55] the country according to law. We are [59:59] committed to this. Regarding the other [60:04] incident you mentioned, I don't want to [60:05] argue with you further here. I have [60:11] twice declared that revitalizing the [60:12] country through science and education [60:14] is the most important task of this [60:16] administration. But I don't have the [60:22] time today to go into detail about [60:23] where this money is spent. However, I [60:28] believe the foundation of science and [60:30] education lies in education. In this [60:35] WTO negotiation with the US side, the [60:37] lady undoubtedly played a key role. I [60:41] know that Americans always struggle to [60:43] understand what a "State Councilor" is [60:45] or what kind of position it is. I can [60:48] now tell everyone that it is a Vice [60:49] Premier. But in China, we are very [61:04] particular about titles. Their title, " [61:08] State Councilor," is ranked after the " [61:10] Premier." Chinese are concerned about [61:13] titles. [61:20] But in the middle of this negotiation, [61:22] she was the Premier and I was the Vice [61:24] Premier. I also want to tell you a [61:42] secret. I can also share a little [61:45] secret with you. [61:47] At home, I am totally obedient to my [61:49] wife. I am a totally obedient servant [61:53] of my wife. [61:57] I don't have a single penny in my [61:59] pocket; I have turned it all over to [62:00] her. I don't have a penny in her. We [62:24] need to find new markets, and the [62:26] development of the western region is [62:27] also urgent. I will mainly cover two [62:34] aspects of this development. The first [62:38] is infrastructure construction. In [62:42] other words, the western region has a [62:44] vast territory, and transportation is [62:46] underdeveloped. Right now, the priority [62:49] is to carry out infrastructure [62:50] construction. Currently, we have [62:54] already shifted a large amount of [62:55] national investment toward the western [62:57] region. For example, we recently [63:02] announced the "West-to-East Gas [63:04] Pipeline" project, which means we have [63:06] discovered vast amounts of natural gas [63:08] in the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang. We have [63:13] decided to build a 4,200-kilometer [63:15] pipeline from Xinjiang directly to [63:17] Shanghai, passing through eight [63:19] provinces and cities. This will cause [63:23] major changes in the regional [63:25] population and market structure, and it [63:27] requires significant capital. We [63:31] welcome domestic and international [63:33] investors, especially foreign investors [63:35] , to participate in the construction. [63:40] You can invest, you can hold shares, [63:42] and you can manage. I believe this [63:47] pipeline will be very profitable and [63:48] have a high rate of return. Second, the [63:53] improvement of the ecological [63:55] environment. It can be said that China [64:01] has now solved the food problem, and [64:02] there is even a surplus of grain. [64:10] Therefore, in the past, when food was [64:12] scarce, we cut down forests on the [64:14] mountains to plant crops. Now that we [64:21] have abundant grain, we can fully [64:23] provide free food to farmers, allowing [64:25] them to retire their farmland and plant [64:27] trees or grass instead. This means [64:33] returning farmland to forests, [64:35] returning farmland to grasslands, and [64:37] returning farmland to lakes. This will [64:45] improve the ecological environment in [64:46] the West, giving the region a beautiful [64:48] environment and making it a good place [64:50] to attract foreign investment. At the [64:57] same time, in order to accelerate [64:58] development in the western region, we [65:00] will implement preferential policies [65:02] for opening up similar to those in the [65:04] east. We welcome foreign investors in [65:08] securities, banking, and insurance; you [65:11] are all welcome to develop in the west. [65:14] When will it become effective? I think [65:17] infrastructure construction is already [65:19] underway. The Chinese are experts at [65:22] building railways and highways. For [65:26] this 4,200-kilometer pipeline, I [65:28] believe it can be built in two years by [65:30] working in sections. Some say it will [65:37] take longer, but I have personally [65:39] inspected the Aba Prefecture in Sichuan [65:41] , and I believe it can be completed in [65:43] 8 to 10 years. Therefore, I believe the [65:51] development of the western region could [65:53] be quite rapid, but of course, this is [65:55] a very arduous task that cannot be [65:56] completed by one generation. True [66:02] development of the western region will [66:04] likely take one, two, or even several [66:06] generations. Thank you, everyone. Our [66:12] consistent policy for resolving the [66:14] Taiwan issue. Is peaceful reunification [66:17] . One or two times. However, we will [66:23] never commit to renouncing. The use of [66:33] Whoever supports the one-China [66:35] principle, we will support them; we [66:36] will talk to them. Any issue can be [66:44] discussed, and we can make concessions [66:46] —concessions to the Chinese people. [66:51] Whoever engages in Taiwan independence [66:54] will face no good End, because you lack [67:04] popular support. You go against the [67:08] will of the Chinese people on both [67:10] sides of the strait, and you also go [67:12] against the will of ethnic Chinese [67:13] overseas. We. All Chinese people [67:23] remember that since the Opium War of [67:25] 1840, China's modern history has been [67:27] one of being bullied and humiliated by [67:29] foreign aggressors. Tai-Wan was also [67:41] under the rule of Japanese militarists [67:43] for many years. Looking back at those [67:53] days, China was so poor and weak, yet [67:55] we still shouted, "Arise, those who [67:57] refuse to be slaves!" And for this, we [68:06] waged persistent and heroic struggles. [68:11] I remember those songs of national [68:13] salvation clearly. I was only nine [68:19] years old then, and even now, every [68:21] time I sing them, tears come to my eyes [68:23] , filled with the resolve to sacrifice [68:25] my life for the motherland. Then. Today [68:35] , the Chinese people have already stood [68:38] up. Can we allow Taiwan, a territory [68:43] that has belonged to China since [68:44] ancient times, to be split from the [68:46] country? Ab-So-Lute-Ly not. Now, some [68:59] people are counting how many warships [69:01] and missiles China has. Their [69:08] conclusion is that the Chinese dare not [69:10] fight and will not fight. By your logic [69:19] , Hitler would have already conquered [69:21] the whole world. You do not understand [69:31] Chinese history; you do not know that [69:33] the Chinese people will surely defend [69:34] the motherland's unity and national [69:36] dignity with their blood and lives. In [69:45] recent days, Taiwan's election [69:47] situation has been volatile and [69:48] dramatic, with all sorts of schemes [69:50] employed. As the saying goes, "Sima [69:58] Zhao’s intent is known to all"— [70:00] isn't it obvious that some want to let [70:02] pro-independence forces...The other day [70:20] , the Taiwan stock market plunged 617 [70:22] points, which is a concentrated [70:24] reflection of the Taiwanese people's [70:26] anxiety over the arrogance of [70:27] pro-independence forces. They are [70:38] worried that the rise of [70:39] pro-independence forces will provoke [70:41] cross-strait war and destroy [70:43] cross-strait peace. We believe this [70:52] worry and anxiety is a logical [70:54] necessity, and it concerns every single [70:56] ...The people of Taiwan are now facing [71:12] a critical historical moment—where [71:14] should they go from here? Do not act on [71:23] impulse, so as to avoid future regrets. [71:28] However, We trust the political wisdom [71:38] of the Taiwanese people; we believe our [71:40] Taiwan compatriots will make a wise [71:42] historical decision. But with only [71:51] three days left, keep a close watch, [71:53] Taiwan compatriots, you must...Thank [72:05] you...The Chinese government and the [72:13] Chinese judicial system handle [72:15] corruption and bribery cases with the [72:17] utmost severity. Of course, this is [72:24] done in accordance with the law. [72:28] Naturally, we are not entirely [72:30] satisfied with this work. The reports [72:40] of the Supreme People's Procuratorate [72:42] and the Supreme People's Court, just [72:44] passed today, each received over 700 [72:46] votes—out of 2,700 attendees, over [72:48] 700 votes were against or abstentions, [72:50] which means the people are not yet very [72:52] satisfied with our work. But you must [73:03] see the significant achievements we [73:04] have made in anti-corruption. For [73:12] example, in our crackdown on smuggling, [73:14] the cases we uncovered in the Jiangmen [73:16] Customs and Xiamen Customs were dealt [73:18] with severely, which caused our customs [73:20] tax revenue to double last year [73:21] compared to the year before. Therefore, [73:31] we used this money to increase the [73:33] wages of 84 million low-income people; [73:35] isn't that a great result? I don't see [73:46] this anti-corruption issue......as [73:48] having much to do with one-party rule [73:50] versus multi-party rule. Isn't there [73:56] also corruption in places where there [73:58] is multi-party rule? The key is the [74:03] rule of law. And it must be firmly [74:06] implemented; China has already made [74:08] great achievements in this regard. We [74:12] must continue to improve our rule of [74:14] law. Of course, our news transparency [74:20] in this area is lagging behind the [74:21] progress of our anti-corruption work. [74:27] But there are practical difficulties in [74:28] this. However, we are improving, and [74:35] you will see more cases published in [74:37] the newspapers in the future, subject [74:39] to the supervision of the masses. As [74:49] for the problem of how to solve it, [74:51] does it require a performance? I said [74:57] eight characters; you helped me spell [74:59] them out. I haven't finished speaking, [75:03] and I haven't said enough. At the first [75:10] State Council meeting this year, I [75:11] proposed that this year is the "Year of [75:13] Management," meaning we must [75:14] comprehensively strengthen management. [75:20] How to strengthen management? It means [75:23] to legislate and to have the rule of [75:25] law. We are strengthening the rule of [75:33] law on this front, and I am [75:34] particularly concerned about the [75:36] financial sector. I can tell you that [75:48] in the last two years, we have handled [75:50] over 5,000 financial cases and removed [75:52] more than 50 branch heads. Comrades, [75:59] friends, friends, my friends. This year [76:09] is just the beginning, and I hope this [76:11] promise can be carried through to the [76:13] end. Thank you for your favorable [76:21] evaluation of our village-level direct [76:23] elections. As for when it can be [76:35] promoted to higher levels, or to what [76:37] level, I hope it will be as soon as [76:39] possible. My term has indeed passed the [76:50] halfway point. In the remaining less [77:01] than three years, I will do my utmost [77:03] and strive hard so as not to betray the [77:05] people's trust in me. I have been [77:13] conducting my work under the leadership [77:15] of the Party Central Committee with [77:16] Comrade Jiang Zemin at its core and [77:18] with the help of all my colleagues in [77:20] the State Council. The work I have done [77:24] myself is limited. I only hope that [77:35] after I step down, the people of the [77:37] country can say that he was an honest [77:39] official, not a corrupt one; then I [77:40] would...If, in addition, they say, "Zhu [77:51] Rongji did manage to accomplish a few [77:54] practical things," then, oh, I would [77:56] thank heaven and earth. Regarding the [78:04] issue of PNTR, it is the foundation of [78:06] the bilateral agreement reached between [78:08] China and the US on China's accession [78:10] to the WTO. And a prerequisite. This [78:26] bilateral agreement was hard-won; it is [78:28] a win-win agreement reached after 13 [78:30] years of negotiations and under the [78:31] personal leadership of President Jiang [78:33] Zemin and President Clinton. This is a [78:43] solemn intergovernmental agreement. [78:46] Both of our governments have a [78:48] responsibility. To ensure it receives [78:54] congressional approval and becomes law. [79:01] The Chinese government has already done [79:02] its part. There are no longer any [79:07] issues within China's parliament, the [79:09] National People's Congress. President [79:17] Clinton has promised, and is indeed [79:19] working on it. It is for the US [79:27] Congress to pass PNTR, that is, this [79:39] President Clinton once said, "If we [79:41] don't approve this PNTR now, I fear we [79:44] will regret it for 20" years. I can add [79:56] one sentence: it won't just be 20 years [79:58] of regret; I fear that hundreds or [80:00] thousands of years later, when [80:02] Americans look back at this history, [80:03] they will inevitably regret it, asking [80:05] why they made such a mistake at that [80:07] time. Short-sighted and regrettable. [80:20] Therefore, I have full confidence in [80:22] the wisdom and rationality of US [80:24] Congress members; PNTR will definitely [80:26] ...The Asian financial crisis occurred [80:42] in 1997, and China also faced great [80:45] difficulties. One was the sharp decline [80:56] in foreign trade exports; in 1997 [80:58] China's exports grew by 20%, but by [81:00] 1998, China's export growth fell to [81:02] zero or even negative growth; China's [81:05] small and medium-sized financial [81:07] institutions also experienced crises or [81:09] defaults. Ten million workers in [81:18] China's state-owned enterprises were [81:20] laid off due to insufficient demand and [81:21] inadequate production capacity. The [81:26] production capacity for major [81:28] industrial and agricultural products [81:29] exceeded demand. Faced with such great [81:34] difficulties, what strategies should we [81:36] adopt? There were various suggestions, [81:41] for example, that the Chinese Renminbi [81:43] should be devalued to boost exports. [81:47] There was another idea that we should [81:49] sell off state-owned assets to overcome [81:51] this crisis. However, the Central [81:56] Committee and the State Council [81:58] decisively made the decision to adopt [81:59] an active fiscal policy and a prudent [82:01] monetary policy. The fact that this [82:07] decision has been implemented for three [82:08] years proves it was correct. Why do we [82:13] say it is correct? Because the [82:16] historical conditions at the time were [82:18] that China was not lacking in manpower [82:20] or capital. By capital, I mean banks; [82:28] the public's savings deposits were very [82:30] substantial. However, due to the [82:36] overcapacity in industrial processing, [82:38] there were no longer any profitable [82:40] projects to lend the bank deposits out [82:42] to, yet the banks still had to pay [82:44] interest. If these state-owned bank [82:49] funds could not be put to use, they [82:51] would become a very heavy burden on the [82:52] national treasury. Therefore, we [82:55] adopted the form of the national [82:57] treasury issuing bonds to banks. ...in [83:02] the form of issuing national bonds, to [83:04] put the bank funds to use. On the other [83:10] hand, our state-owned enterprises had [83:12] serious overcapacity; only by engaging [83:14] in construction and development could [83:16] we utilize this excess production [83:18] capacity. But there were many [83:25] unemployed workers, so under these [83:27] circumstances, we issued national bonds [83:29] over three years. Under the condition [83:36] of 360 billion, we carried out 1.5 [83:38] trillion in infrastructure construction [83:40] , which drove and revitalized the [83:42] entire national economy. The current [83:50] achievements are very obvious. First, [83:57] these funds were all invested in [83:58] infrastructure construction. In these [84:02] three years, we built 170,000 [84:04] kilometers of roads, of which 10,000 [84:06] kilometers were expressways. 10,000 [84:11] kilometers of newly built, renovated, [84:14] and electrified railways, and thousands [84:16] of kilometers of river embankments have [84:18] largely reached flood-prevention [84:20] standards, so we are no longer afraid [84:22] of floods like in 1998. Various [84:29] infrastructure projects in cities, [84:30] including sewage treatment and [84:32] environmental improvement, have greatly [84:34] improved the national ecology and [84:36] environmental protection; the benefits [84:38] are clearly visible to everyone. [84:47] Secondly, this infrastructure [84:48] construction spurred industrial [84:50] production, helping state-owned [84:51] enterprises emerge from their [84:53] predicament within three years. Taxes [85:02] and their own profits, in turn, led to [85:04] a significant increase in national [85:06] fiscal revenue. So from last year, [85:16] which is the third year of implementing [85:18] the active fiscal policy, we have [85:19] already seen this effect: the result of [85:21] stimulating the national economy led to [85:23] a massive increase in fiscal revenue. [85:32] Last year's national fiscal revenue was [85:35] 1.388 trillion, an increase of 160 [85:37] billion over 1999. We have taken a [85:44] major step forward in our ability to [85:45] repay debt. Yes, China's fiscal deficit [85:54] has increased, and quite significantly, [85:56] but all of this deficit is being used [85:58] for infrastructure construction. We [86:07] have the capability to repay this [86:09] national debt, and I believe there is [86:10] no risk at all. Last year, I met with [86:19] the former U.S. Treasury Secretary in [86:21] Xinjiang, and I asked him, "China is [86:23] currently implementing a prudent yet [86:25] proactive fiscal policy.""What is your [86:31] opinion on this?" He asked, "What is [86:32] the current balance of your national [86:34] debt?" I said, "1.2 trillion. This [86:36] includes the national debt from [86:38] previous years, totaling 1.2 trillion." [86:41] "Which has not yet been repaid.""It [86:43] accounts for 14%of our GDP." He was [86:48] very direct, stating that there is no [86:50] risk, and it is still far from the [86:52] generally accepted warning level of 20% [86:54] . Of course, it is not just because he [86:58] said that that I felt reassured. I base [87:01] it on last year's figures. That is to [87:06] say, fiscal revenue increased by 196 [87:08] billion in one year. I have money in my [87:11] hands; the actual silver and gold have [87:13] come back. Therefore, I felt reassured. [87:22] The National People's Congress has [87:24] approved the State Council to issue [87:26] another 150 billion in national debt [87:28] this year, to be used for the [87:29] construction of existing projects and [87:31] new projects for the development of the [87:33] western region. I estimate that we may [87:39] need to issue another 150 billion next [87:41] year. I estimate that after these two [87:49] years, once the existing projects are [87:51] completed and the western development [87:53] has taken initial shape, due to the [87:55] virtuous cycle of the economy, the [87:57] increase in fiscal tax revenue, and the [87:59] opening of social funding channels, I [88:00] believe there will be no need to issue [88:02] so much national debt in the future. [88:11] Perhaps there will be no need to issue [88:12] this kind of constructive national debt [88:14] at all. Let's wait and see. However, I [88:18] have another kind of concern. If we [88:23] issue less, nowadays the public hears [88:24] that national debt is being issued and [88:26] they get up in the middle of the night [88:28] to queue in front of the banks; it all [88:30] sells out in one morning. If we don't [88:35] issue national debt in the future, the [88:37] public might have complaints about us. [88:41] Of course, the reason is very simple; [88:44] currently, the one-year bank savings [88:46] interest rate is only 2.25%, while the [88:49] three-year national debt rate is 2.87%, [88:51] and the five-year rate is 3.07%. There [88:57] is a bit of a difference. I might add [89:03] that even though we issued national [89:05] debt, bank savings have not decreased. [89:10] Even after the introduction of interest [89:12] income tax, they are still increasing. [89:16] The Chinese people still have [89:17] confidence in us. I. Think that the [89:29] relationship between China and Japan, [89:31] when President Jiang Zemin visited [89:33] Japan in 1998, jointly established a [89:35] partnership dedicated to peace and [89:37] development, a friendly cooperative [89:39] partnership. The relationship between [89:45] China and Japan has greatly improved. [89:52] When I visited Japan that year, in [89:53] accordance with the spirit of "looking [89:55] at history and looking toward the [89:57] future" proposed by President Jiang [89:59] Zemin, I held friendly talks with [90:01] Japanese government leaders. We held [90:07] discussions, and I also engaged in some [90:09] sincere and practical work with people [90:11] from various circles. I believe the [90:17] main issue in China-Japan relations [90:19] right now is the textbook issue, which [90:21] is not just a problem between our two [90:23] countries. It is a problem for Japan [90:30] and all the related countries and [90:32] peoples of Asia. If one denies the [90:39] historical fact that Japanese [90:40] militarists launched a war of [90:42] aggression and distorts history, that [90:44] does not just hurt the feelings of the [90:45] Chinese people; it hurts the feelings [90:47] of all the people in Asia. These [90:53] textbooks must be approved by the [90:55] Japanese government and the Japanese [90:57] Ministry of Education; therefore, the [90:59] Japanese government bears an [91:00] unshirkable responsibility. They must [91:03] take action regarding these matters. [91:08] They cannot use the excuse of freedom [91:10] of speech or opinion to shirk this [91:16] responsibility. I am aware and have [91:20] heard that some revisions have been [91:22] made, but based on the reactions of [91:23] people from various Asian countries, [91:25] these revisions are not enough. I do [91:33] not believe anyone is trying to [91:34] interfere in Japan's internal affairs; [91:36] rather, it is a question of whether [91:38] Japan, the Japanese people, and the [91:40] peoples of Asia, including China, can [91:42] maintain friendship from generation to [91:44] generation, and it is also in the [91:46] interest of the Japanese people. Of [91:52] course, I do not believe this issue [91:54] will affect the exchanges between China [91:56] and Japan, including high-level [91:57] exchanges. I reiterate my invitation [92:02] for Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori to [92:04] visit China this year. Last year, I [92:08] accepted his invitation—actually, I [92:10] was invited by the late former Prime [92:12] Minister Keizo Obuchi to visit Japan, [92:14] but sadly he has passed away, for which [92:17] we express our condolences; later, [92:19] Prime Minister Mori invited me to visit [92:21] Japan. I feel that I had very good [92:26] communication with the Japanese people, [92:29] which I still find hard to forget; [92:30] therefore, I reiterate my welcome and [92:32] invitation for Prime Minister Mori to [92:34] visit China. I believe the [92:41] institutional reform of this government [92:42] has been successful. Since 1998, we [92:47] have achieved, in a very short time, [92:49] the reduction of the staff in the State [92:51] Council system from 30,000 to over [92:53] 16,000, meaning we have cut the staff [92:56] by half. There was no instability [93:00] whatsoever. Currently, our provincial [93:07] and municipal government agencies have [93:09] also conducted downsizing according to [93:11] a certain proportion, and this year we [93:13] have decided to reduce the city and [93:15] county level agencies by 20%, with all [93:17] excess personnel being retired. I think [93:25] these government institutional reforms [93:27] are very beneficial for improving [93:29] government efficiency and transforming [93:30] functions. I can say now that the [93:36] efficiency of the State Council [93:37] government agencies has greatly [93:39] improved. Of course, there are things I [93:48] am not satisfied with, namely that the [93:49] transformation of our government [93:51] functions is not yet complete, and our [93:53] officials are accustomed to working [93:54] under a planned economy and are not [93:56] very clear about the government's role [93:58] under a socialist market economy. As a [94:07] result, they have done some things they [94:09] should not have done; I call this a [94:11] displacement of their roles. Therefore, [94:17] we are still undergoing reforms. Last [94:21] year, we dealt with ten state bureaus, [94:23] which were equivalent to the ten former [94:25] industrial ministries. We abolished [94:30] nine of them and reformed one. This is [94:34] a very significant change. At the same [94:38] time, we need to strengthen certain [94:40] departments that should adapt to the [94:42] requirements of a socialist market [94:43] economy. For example, the State [94:50] Administration for Industry and [94:51] Commerce, the State Bureau of Quality [94:53] and Technical Supervision, and the [94:55] State Administration of Import and [94:56] Export Inspection—we need to [94:58] strengthen and upgrade these [94:59] departments, meaning they were [95:01] originally deputy-ministerial level, [95:03] but now they will become ministerial [95:04] level. Right. Naturally, the [95:13] transformation of government functions [95:15] is not an easy task; it takes time, and [95:17] we will continue to work hard. Thank [95:21] you. Regarding the issue of the large [95:27] gap in income distribution, we are [95:28] paying serious attention to it, but I [95:30] believe it has not yet reached a [95:32] critical level. According to a 1999 [95:39] survey in China, the Gini coefficient [95:42] calculated according to international [95:44] standards is 0.39, which is close to [95:46] the level internationally recognized as [95:48] a warning line. However, I believe that [95:55] for the following reasons, the problem [95:57] is not yet that serious. First, it is [96:02] due to historical reasons; the [96:07] urban-rural gap and the income gap are [96:09] very large. Because of the current [96:14] relative surplus of grain and falling [96:16] grain prices, farmers 'incomes—mainly [96:19] in the major producing areas—are [96:20] declining. The Central Committee and [96:29] the State Council attach great [96:31] importance to this problem and have [96:32] placed increasing farmers' incomes as [96:34] the top priority in current economic [96:36] work. We will introduce a series of [96:43] measures to solve this problem. Second, [96:50] among urban residents, because the [96:52] reform of state-owned enterprises is [96:54] not yet complete, the number of [96:55] laid-off and unemployed workers is [96:57] still relatively high, so the income [96:59] gap between employed workers and those [97:01] who are laid-off or unemployed is also [97:02] widening. We will solve this problem by [97:11] improving and establishing a [97:12] standardized social security system and [97:14] improving re-employment work. Third, [97:23] due to historical reasons or monopoly [97:25] advantages in certain industries or [97:27] sectors, their incomes are too high. I [97:35] can recite a popular saying to identify [97:37] which industries have incomes that are [97:39] too high. It is called "Bank plus [97:43] Securities and Insurance." Banking, [97:47] securities, and insurance are the three [97:49] , plus two powers and one tobacco. The [97:54] two powers are power and [97:55] telecommunications. And one tobacco is [98:00] tobacco. Third, the third point [98:03] concerns oil and petrochemicals, [98:05] specifically the China National [98:07] Petroleum Corporation and the China [98:08] Petrochemical Corporation. The fourth [98:12] point involves even those who are [98:14] sweeping the floors there. We are about [98:22] to carry out structural reforms in [98:24] these monopolistic industries, [98:25] including electricity, [98:26] telecommunications, railways, and civil [98:29] aviation. To eliminate their monopolies [98:33] . Of course, we will also use tax [98:42] measures to narrow the income gap; for [98:44] example, our individual income tax [98:46] system requires the highest bracket to [98:48] pay 45%, meaning half of their income [98:50] should go to the state. In these areas, [98:58] our implementation has not been very [99:00] good. We need to better improve and [99:04] collect this tax according to the law. [99:09] In short, three points are worth noting [99:11] . It is not very serious. It is being [99:16] resolved. Did I appear tired in 1998? I [99:35] don’t know how you all here would [99:37] comment, but I think four years have [99:39] passed, and people do age, right? [99:51] However, I believe that over these four [99:53] years, I have never dared to slack off [99:55] in carrying out my government work. I [100:08] think this administration has [100:09] accomplished a lot in these four years, [100:11] especially in overcoming the Asian [100:13] financial crisis and using that [100:15] opportunity to develop ourselves; but [100:16] of course, I still have many things [100:18] left undone. You ask what gives me the [100:27] most headaches? I have a headache all [100:30] day long. If, if you ask what is the [100:34] most headache-inducing? I think at [100:39] present, it is mainly about increasing [100:41] farmers 'income. Because in these four [100:48] years, the wages of state civil [100:50] servants have nearly doubled, while [100:52] prices have not risen. Furthermore, [100:57] state-owned enterprises have turned [100:59] around in these three years, and the [101:00] wages of many employees in these [101:02] enterprises have also increased [101:04] significantly. Also, retired employees, [101:08] thanks to the improvement of our social [101:11] security system, have had their [101:12] benefits increased, and I think they [101:14] are all very happy. But by comparison, [101:21] it is the farmers—eight hundred [101:22] million farmers—whose income has not [101:24] increased quickly, and in some [101:26] individual places, it has even declined [101:28] . Regarding this problem, the Chinese [101:35] government has made tremendous efforts, [101:36] and I have also devoted a large portion [101:38] of my government work report to it. But [101:43] solving this problem is not easy. The [101:47] most fundamental measure is to rely on [101:49] the adjustment of agricultural planting [101:51] or the industrial structure. Because [101:55] China now has a surplus of grain. There [102:00] are more and more agricultural products [102:02] ; whatever is planted in abundance, the [102:04] price cannot go up, and farmers' income [102:06] cannot increase. Especially after China [102:11] joins the WTO, your American [102:13] agricultural products will continue to [102:15] enter China in large quantities. If the [102:18] prices of my agricultural products fall [102:19] further, won't the farmers be in great [102:21] difficulty? This is also a matter that [102:24] gives me a headache. Do you know that [102:29] U.S. soybean exports to China already [102:31] equal 15 million tons, which is China's [102:33] total domestic production? When we [102:43] wanted to adopt a management policy for [102:45] genetically modified agricultural [102:47] products—a practice followed by many [102:49] countries internationally—your U.S. [102:51] leaders came to talk to me about the [102:52] soybean issue, saying, "Our 1 billion [102:54] dollars in U.S. exports, you must be [102:56] very cautious." But for the steel [103:08] products you import from China, you [103:09] announced a tariff increase of 8%to 30% [103:12] , which prevents 350 million dollars ' [103:13] worth of Chinese steel from being [103:15] exported to the U.S. So, may I be just [103:17] as concerned about my own country's [103:19] exports as your leaders are about those [103:21] soybeans? I also want to...I...let's [103:36] return to this headache of a problem; [103:38] although it is a headache, I believe it [103:40] will be solved. Because China currently [103:44] has grain reserves of 500 billion [103:46] catties, I can open up supplies. We are [103:52] implementing policies to return [103:53] farmland to forests, to grazing land, [103:55] and to lakes, allowing farmers' incomes [103:58] to increase; at the same time, we are [104:00] carrying out a tax-for-fee reform in [104:02] rural areas to reduce the burden on [104:04] farmers. Therefore, I believe these [104:09] measures can alleviate the current [104:10] difficult situation for farmers. After [104:16] a period of time, with the adjustment [104:18] of the agricultural industrial [104:19] structure, farmers 'incomes will [104:21] increase, although it will require some [104:23] ...Time. The other day, I saw a Hong [104:33] Kong newspaper grant me an honorary [104:35] title, calling me...The Self Premier. [104:45] I. Have never accepted honorary titles [104:47] or honorary degrees, so I need to [104:48] clarify this matter. I. Checked the [104:57] available data, and I looked at over 20 [104:58] countries; in 2000, 19 of them had [104:59] deficits, including some major [105:00] developed nations. Therefore, the issue [105:01] is not whether you have a fiscal [105:01] deficit, but whether your deficit level [105:02] is within a sustainable range. [105:10] Especially regarding what this deficit [105:12] is used for, and where you are spending [105:14] it; China's budget deficit this year is [105:17] 98 billion RMB. This is equivalent to [105:37] about 3%of the annual GDP. The total [105:49] balance of issued national debt is 2.56 [105:52] trillion, accounting for 16%of the GDP. [105:59] Both of these figures are within the [106:01] recognized international warning lines, [106:03] and are still very far from them. The [106:09] important thing is that this deficit of [106:11] mine is not used to cover routine [106:13] budget expenditures; it hasn't been " [106:15] eaten up," but is used for [106:16] infrastructure construction. This [106:22] current administration has issued 510 [106:24] billion in national debt, which has [106:26] mobilized bank funds and other capital [106:28] channels to complete a total of 2 [106:30] trillion in projects. These 2 trillion [106:38] in projects include 100,000 kilometers [106:40] of roads, of which 13,000 kilometers [106:42] are expressways. This, I believe, is a [106:49] solid foundation. Over 5,000 kilometers [107:00] of trunk railway lines, or if including [107:02] electrification and double-tracking [107:04] upgrades, over 10,000 kilometers; we [107:06] also built 95 million kilowatts of [107:08] power stations and fully renovated [107:10] rural power grids. The number of mobile [107:18] and fixed-line telephones in China has [107:20] increased by 320 million over these [107:22] four years, and these are all tangible [107:24] achievements. Therefore, what I am [107:32] leaving to the next administration is [107:34] not just debt, but 2.5 trillion yuan in [107:36] high-quality assets. In China's future [107:44] economic development, these will [107:46] continue to generate massive economic [107:47] benefits for a long time. Moreover. [107:56] What is more important is that this 510 [107:58] billion yuan in national debt, along [108:00] with the bank loans it leveraged, has [108:02] spurred total industrial production and [108:04] driven the high-speed growth of the [108:06] entire national economy. With fiscal [108:13] revenue increasing significantly each [108:15] year, this has enabled us to greatly [108:16] improve the welfare of our workers. In [108:21] recent years, workers' wages have [108:23] nearly doubled. It has allowed us to [108:30] build a relatively sound social [108:32] security system and invest substantial [108:34] funds. Into it. At the same time, the [108:47] public's bank savings have continued to [108:49] rise in recent years, maintaining an [108:51] annual increase of 700 to 800 billion [108:54] yuan. In other words, if we had not [109:05] adopted this proactive fiscal policy [109:07] and prudent monetary policy, the [109:09] Chinese economy might have collapsed. [109:19] Therefore, we can see from this that [109:21] the intensity of this proactive fiscal [109:23] policy was perfectly measured. You see, [109:29] over these four years, prices haven't [109:31] risen at all. And they haven't fallen [109:34] much, either. They fluctuated within [109:36] one percent. It was just right. Clearly [109:43] , China's "kung fu" is quite good. So I [109:49] am sorry, I cannot accept the honorary [109:51] title of "Proactive Premier." I return [109:55] it to you. Because our country was able [110:00] to implement a proactive fiscal policy, [110:02] not only overcoming the impact of the [110:04] Asian financial crisis but also using [110:06] that opportunity to develop China's [110:08] national economy at an unprecedented [110:10] pace, I feel...This year is. The 30th [110:17] anniversary of the normalization of [110:19] China-Japan diplomatic relations. When [110:26] I met with Prime Minister Koizumi last [110:28] year, we designated this as the Year of [110:30] China-Japan Friendship and will hold a [110:32] series of events to celebrate, [110:33] including strengthening communication [110:35] and exchanges, hosting a Japan Culture [110:37] Year in China, and a China Culture Year [110:39] in Japan. Regarding the invitation for [110:46] the Crown Prince and Crown Princess to [110:48] visit China, we have long been working [110:50] to promote it. We certainly hope they [110:54] can accept the invitation to visit [110:56] China, and I believe they will surely [110:58] ...In the future. Regarding your point [111:09] about polarization in China, or the [111:11] existence of a widening gap between the [111:13] rich and the poor, I agree that such a [111:15] phenomenon exists. I believe you likely [111:24] remember Mr. Deng Xiaoping saying that [111:26] we should let some people get rich [111:28] first, and so naturally, there are some [111:29] who have not yet become rich. Therefore [111:36] , the widening gap between the rich and [111:38] the poor may be inevitable during a [111:40] certain historical period. However, [111:47] while implementing the policy of [111:49] allowing some people to get rich first, [111:51] we are constantly supporting low-income [111:53] or disadvantaged groups. For instance, [112:01] increasing farmers 'income occupies a [112:03] large part of my government work report [112:05] , and it can be said to have become a [112:07] central task. We are also promoting the [112:18] importance of the social security [112:20] system to support laid-off, unemployed, [112:22] and retired workers; these are all our [112:24] priorities. Besides using the fiscal [112:34] budget to narrow this wealth gap, the [112:36] most important means for our government [112:38] is taxation. We use tax policies and [112:46] tax reforms to support those among the [112:48] public who have not yet become affluent [112:50] . I believe that after a period of time [112:57] , this phenomenon of a large wealth gap [112:59] will eventually be resolved. I think [113:06] the "one guarantee and three [113:07] achievements" reforms I proposed in [113:09] 1998......have been basically completed [113:12] over these four years. The "one [113:17] guarantee" was to ensure that year's 8% [113:19] growth rate. And that the Renminbi [113:21] would not depreciate. The Renminbi did [113:24] not depreciate, and the growth rate was [113:27] 7.8%, slightly less than the 8%I [113:29] mentioned. As everyone knows, in 1998, [113:33] China suffered from unprecedented [113:35] floods, coupled with the impact of the [113:37] Asian financial crisis, so it fell a [113:39] little short. The "three achievements," [113:44] first, was for the majority of [113:46] state-owned enterprises to achieve [113:47] profitability within three years. The [113:54] goal for large and medium-sized [113:56] enterprises to turn losses into profits [113:58] was already achieved within three years [114:00] . If these state-owned enterprises had [114:08] not paid taxes to the government, [114:09] China's fiscal situation could not be [114:11] this good, nor could it be growing [114:13] every year at a rate more than double [114:15] that of the GDP. As for financial [114:21] reform, we have already carried out [114:23] major reforms on commercial banks. We [114:27] drew on the experience of the U.S. RTC [114:29] to separate non-performing loans and [114:31] establish asset management companies. [114:34] This has brought about a significant [114:36] transformation in the operations of [114:38] commercial banks. Last year alone, the [114:40] ratio of non-performing loans decreased [114:43] . As for streamlining the State Council [114:47] agencies, that was completed that same [114:49] year, reducing the staff by half. And [114:54] this time, the streamlining is now [114:56] being pushed down to provincial, [114:58] municipal, and county governments, and [115:00] is currently underway. [115:06] Regarding the other five reforms: grain [115:08] distribution system reform, investment [115:11] system reform......housing system [115:13] reform, medical system reform, and [115:15] fiscal and tax system reform; I can say [115:18] that some of these five reforms are [115:20] completed, and some are ongoing. I am [115:24] still satisfied with the progress of [115:26] these reforms. Therefore, I believe [115:33] that this government has fulfilled its [115:35] commitments to the people of the [115:37] country and the National People's [115:39] Congress; otherwise, why would every [115:41] government work report be passed by a [115:43] large majority of over 70%? I think we [115:49] can say we have a clear conscience, but [115:51] there is still a lot of work left [115:53] undone. We must continue to do a good [115:56] job. Thank you. [115:59] I truly admire the persistence and [116:00] dedication of you journalists. You [116:04] always insist on getting to the bottom [116:05] of the matter. But as I just said, even [116:11] I don't know the answer, so how can I [116:13] answer you? As for me, apart from the [116:22] fact that I am truly buried in my work, [116:24] I have no particular merits. I hope no [116:33] one learns from me, especially the " [116:35] skills" a certain Hong Kong newspaper [116:37] attributed to me—like slamming the [116:38] table, pounding the bench, and glaring. [116:45] Please, don't learn that. However, what [116:48] that newspaper said isn't entirely [116:50] wrong. I have slammed the table, and I [116:54] have glared—if I couldn't glare, [116:56] wouldn't I be a vegetable? But I have [117:01] absolutely never pounded a bench; that [117:03] would be very painful. As for the claim [117:10] that I do this to intimidate the common [117:12] people, I don't think anyone believes [117:13] that. I never intimidate the common [117:18] people; I only intimidate corrupt [117:20] officials. None. Hong Kong once served [117:30] as a financial hub for Asia, and it is [117:32] also a civilized international city in [117:34] many other respects. I don't think this [117:42] advantage has been lost, especially [117:44] considering the contribution Hong Kong [117:46] made to China's reform and opening up [117:48] in the 70s and 80s. With the [117:56] development of the world economy, I [117:57] think Hong Kong's position should be [117:59] adjusted. All of Hong Kong's elite are [118:07] exploring this issue, and we are [118:09] willing to join the SAR government and [118:10] the people of Hong Kong to discuss it. [118:18] But I firmly believe that its [118:20] advantages have yet to be fully [118:21] realized, and its future potential is [118:23] limitless. As I have already said, no [118:29] similar city can replace Hong Kong in [118:31] the near future. I hope we all have the [118:39] confidence that our goals can certainly [118:41] be achieved. Alright. Today's press [118:53] conference ends here. I am determined [119:22] to make the next government a clean, [119:24] efficient administration that serves [119:25] the people wholeheartedly. This is my [119:29] determination.