The development of the Sino-Japanese relations should follow the spirit
and principle of "taking history as a mirror and looking forward to the future"
and the three political documents.
Wen called for the two countries to
continue strategic dialogue between the governments so as to remove obstacles
affecting the bilateral relations.
"We should also strengthen
people-to-people exchanges and enhance mutual understanding and trust," Wen
said.
Foreign and domestic
journalists attend Premier Wen Jiabao's press conference
after the conclusion of the annual session of the National People's
Congress in Beijing, March 14, 2006. The annual meeting of the
nation's top lawmaking body closed Tuesday at the Great Hall of
the People. [Xinhua] |
Wen
also urged to stabilize and develop Sino-Japanese trade and economic ties, in a
bid to expanding "mutual beneficial cooperation for win-win results."
Premier Wen's press conference was telecast live in the Great Hall of
the People in Beijing on Tuesday morning.
** Heavy polluters face
punishment
China failed to meet the environmental objective in the 10th five-year plan
while most of the objectives have been achieved, premier Wen revealed, adding
that environmental pollution has become a big problem for the country's
development.
The premier urged stricter law enforcement, which is the most important and
difficult thing in environmental protection.
He demanded authorities at all levels to close down the enterprises causing
serious pollution and consumption of large amount of energy.
The polluting enterprises and individuals that have caused major losses to
the people and the society should be held liable, according to Wen.
** Harsh punishment for illicit land seizure
China
will mete out harsh punishment to those who illicitly seize land from the
farmers, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
"The core issue concerning
Chinese farmers is the land issue, " he said. "We must give adequate and due
compensation to farmers whose land are seized. The land transfer revenue should
mainly be paid to farmers."
Wen said China must adopt the strictest
arable-land protection system and must protect farmers' right to independent
farming on their contracted land.
China's reforms started from the
countrysides and the most important policy adopted is the household
responsibility system. According to the system, the land belongs to the
collective entity in villages, while the right to production and farming
belongs to farmers.
Wen said the system is a major feature as well as a
major advantage in Chinese countryside. China will guarantee the long-term right
to independent farming for the farmers. "This guarantee will remain unchanged
for fifteen years, for thirty years, or even forever."
** China
pursues self-defense policyChina pursues a national defense
policy of self-defense, and its limited increase of military expenditure is
mainly used to improve the living conditions of officers and to improve
self-defense capability, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
The country's
defense policy is transparent, said Wen, adding that China has never dispatched
even one soldier abroad except its peacekeepers, and has not occupied an
inch of foreign land.
** Management of Internet conforms to
world practice
The Chinese government supports the development of Internet and the
management of the Internet conforms to international common practice, said
Premier Wen.
Being the people's government, it should subject to the democratic
supervision from the masses, and listen to the various opinions on the Internet,
said Wen.
He noted that the Internet is developing rapidly in China. Up to now, the
number of netizens has exceeded 100 million. The Chinese government supports the
development and wide application of the Internet.
Only when supervised by people, will the government not be slack in its work;
only when every one bears his/her responsibility, will every cause of the
country develop smoothly, Wen said.
China's Constitution stipulates that every citizen has the right and freedom
of using the Internet, at the same time every citizen should consciously abide
by the laws and regulations and safeguard national and social interests, the
premier said.
China's management of the Internet is strictly based on law. In the meantime,
China calls for self-discipline and self-management of the Internet industry,
Wen said.
"Websites should convey correct information, rather than misleading people
and bringing negative impact on the social order," he added.
"No more surprise currency appreciation"
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday ruled out possibility for another
one-off adjustment of its currency, the yuan, such as last July's 2.1 percent
revaluation against the dollar, and said China will allow the yuan to move more
flexibly.
"According to the current regime, there is room for the yuan to
fluctuate either up or down on its own in line with changes in the market. It's
no longer necessary for us to take one-off administrative measures," he
said.
The yuan has risen just 0.8 percent since it was revalued by 2.1 percent last
July. Before the July 2005 move, the yuan traded at about 8.28 to the dollar.
The revaluation took it to 8.11 and it now trades at about 8.05.
"There will be no more surprises," Wen said.
Wen noted that the yuan, also known as the renminbi (RMB), had risen against
the dollar even though the US currency itself has been strong. And its gains
against the euro and the yen had been even greater.
"Through this reform we have established a new RMB exchange rate regime. We
will further strengthen the exchange rate system and we will expand the foreign
exchange market and allow more flexibility in the fluctuation of the Chinese
currency," he said.
Moreover, in response to a question on China's bank reform, Wen told the
press that the nation will continue to hold a majority of stake in the
state-owned commercial banks to guard against financial risks as China pushes
forward the reform aimed at improving the banks' management level and economic
gains.
