Trade, economic ties with Russia

    On the issue concerning China's economic ties with Russia, the Premier said China-Russia energy cooperation is an important part of the bilateral cooperative friendship and is based on equality and mutual benefit. 

     He said he would discuss with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Fradkov about trade and economic cooperation, particularly that in oil and gas exploration, when they met in the second half of the year.

    China and Russia have reached a consensus on energy cooperation, Wen said, citing Russia's promise to enlarge oil export to China to 10 million tons for 2005 and 15 million tons for 2006, based on last year's 9 million tons.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has made it clear that Russia would give first consideration to China in building an oil-gas pipeline in Siberia. 

    Describing the China-Russia relationship over the last few years as being in "the best period" since the settlement of the border issues left over from history, Wen said the two countries had set a goal to expand their trade to 60-80 million US dollars by 2010.

    Last year, China and Russia established a strategic partnership of cooperation and their trade reached 20 billion US dollars.

Death penalty not to be abolished

    On the question of death penalty, the Premier confirmed that measures are being taken to reform the country's judicial system including the possible callback of the power to approve death penalty to the Supreme People's Court.

    However, based on China's "national conditions", it is impossible for China to rescind the sentence term, said Wen, citing the fact that half of the nations worldwide still adopt the death penalty to support his comment.

    The Premier also vowed to improve judicial mechanism to ensure "death penalty to be given carefully and fairly".

Backgrounder: Death penalty in China

Boosting capital market

    Answering the question on stock market develpment, Premier Wen said China will continue its policy of developing the capital market and expand direct financing.

    He listed some specific measures to achieve that goal, including enhancing efforts to improve the quality of listed firms,which he said is "fundamental" to the country's endeavors in developing the securities market.

    The country will also build an open, fair and transparent securities market, intensify supervision and crack down on any behaviors in violation of laws and regulations, he added. Enditem