Special Report: Premier Wen's "trip of Confidence" to Europe
Full text of Chinese premier's speech
at University of Cambridge
LONDON, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao said here on Monday that China and European countries should
strengthen cooperation to deal with global financial crisis.
Speaking at a joint news conference after talks with
his British counterpart Gordon Brown, Wen said that during his week-long "trip
of confidence" to five European countries, he met with European leaders for
talks on issues of common concern, especially the global financial crisis, and
achieved "fruitful" results.
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British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L)
and visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao meet the press in London, Britain,
Feb. 2, 2009. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)
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Europe and China agreed that dialog and cooperation
had dominated their 30-year ties, and great achievements had been made, said
Wen, adding that such relationship had brought benefits to both sides, and set
an example of mutual benefits and win-win outcome.
Sino-European relationship enjoys a solid foundation
and a bright future, Wen noted.
In the face of global challenges such as the
financial crisis, China and Europe should make joint efforts to promote
cooperation, and make their own contributions to the world's harmony and
sustainable development, said the premier.
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British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L)
and visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao meet the press in London, Britain,
Feb. 2, 2009. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
"This
financial crisis is a global one. No single country can remain immune and
address this in isolation. We are sitting in the same boat and we need to work
together to overcome difficulties," said Wen.
The premier said that if China could maintain its
economic growth, "it will be the biggest contribution to the whole world" in a
time of global financial crisis.
China is willing to strengthen coordination and
cooperation with the international community, to work together to achieve an
early recovery for world economy, and to build a fair, just, comprehensive and
orderly international financial system, said Wen.
Brown told reporters that Britain and China could
work together and avoid a retreat to protectionism during the economic downturn.
"We know from previous downturns that a retreat to
narrow, short-term protectionism policies would only serve to deepen the global
recession and we must not and will not allow that to happen again," said Brown.
Brown said that Britain and China supported the
reform of international institutions and the creation of an early-warning system
for the global economy.
The two countries would push these and other
proposals at the London Summit of G20 nations in April, he added.
Wen arrived in London on Saturday for a three-day
official visit. Britain is the last leg of his week-long European tour, which
began on Tuesday and has already taken him to Switzerland, Germany, the European
Union headquarters in Brussels and Spain.
During the visit, Wen met with people from political,
business and financial circles. He also delivered a speech at the University of
Cambridge.
The premier is also paying a return visit for Prime
Minister Gordon Brown's China tour early last year, as part of a regular
high-level meeting mechanism between the two countries.
Chinese premier ends European tour in
London
LONDON, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on
Monday left London, and flew back to Beijing, ending his week-long five European
countries trip.
Wen arrived in London on Saturday for his three-day
official visit. During his visit, Wen had talks with his British counterpart
Gordon Brown on various issues, mainly focusing on the financial crisis. And Wen
had broad contacts with people from political, business and financial circles of
Britain, and he also delivered a speech at the University of Cambridge. Full story
Chinese premier expresses confidence
in weathering crisis, calls for cooperation
LONDON, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said
Sunday that he is confident China will weather the global economic crisis,
calling for cooperation to tackle the financial storm.
The confidence comes from a correct judgment of the
current situation, Wen said in an interview with the Financial Times. Full story
Wen: co-op top priority to tackle
financial crisis
CAMBRIDGE, Britain, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao said on Monday that cooperation to tide over global financial
difficulties is a "top priority" and urged people to "see China in the light of
development."
"To work together and tide over the difficulties has
become our top priority," Wen said in his speech at the University of Cambridge,
Britain, the last leg of his weeklong "trip of confidence" to Europe. Full story
Wen calls for serious reflection on
existing economic systems, theories
CAMBRIDGE, Britain, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao on Monday called for serious reflection on existing economic systems and
theories in the face of the current financial crisis.
The international financial crisis "fully demonstrates
that a totally unregulated market economy cannot work," Wen said. "We must
strike a balance between financial innovation and regulation, between the
financial sector and real economy and between savings and consumption." Full story
Wen: Argument of big power bound to
seek hegemony does not apply to China
CAMBRIDGE, Britain, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao said Monday during a speech at the University of Cambridge that the
argument that a big power is bound to seek hegemony does not apply to China.
"Seeking hegemony goes against China's cultural tradition
as well as the will of the Chinese people," Wen said, adding that China's
development does not harm or threaten anyone. Full story
China, Britain issue joint statement
on closer cooperation amid int'l financial crisis
LONDON, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- China and Britain on Monday
issued a joint statement, agreeing to strengthen cooperation and actively deal
with the international financial crisis.
As two of the world's leading economies, China and Britain
are crucial players in addressing the unstable economic climate, according to
the joint statement issued after talks between visiting Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Full story
Wen confident that China to keep
growth at about 8% in 2009
LONDON, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said
Sunday he is confident that China will maintain economic growth at "about 8
percent" this year.
"China's GDP was at 9 percent as a whole last year, but in
the fourth quarter of 2008 we also had a big decline and it fell to 6.8
percent," Wen told the Financial Times. "Our economy is under increased downward
pressures and all this means that we are now facing great difficulties." Full story
