Premier Wen gives online interview at Xinhuanet, Gov't
Portal
Profile: Chinese
Premier Wen Jiabao
Premier Wen's
Highlights
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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao holds an
online chat with netizens jointly hosted by the central government website
and Xinhua website in Beijing, China, Feb. 28, 2009. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao said on Saturday that narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor
could not be achieved "in a static state" and should be conducted alongside with
economic development.
Wen was in response to a question about the income
gap while chatting with netizens at the central government website (http://english.gov.cn) and the
Xinhua News Agency website (http://www.chinaview.cn ).
Wen acknowledged that China's social and economic
development does have the problem of "imbalanced, discordant and unsustainable"
growth.
The major problem is the imbalance between different
regions, between the urban and the rural areas and the income imbalance, he
said.
"A just society should enable all citizens enjoy the
fruits of reform and development," he said.
Wen went on quoting Adam Smith's Theory of Moral
Sentiments, saying that if the wealth of a society is concentrated in the hands
of a small number of people, then this is against the popular will, and the
society is bound to be unstable.
"Therefore, we are highly concerned with the problem
of the gap between the rich and the poor," he said.
He said he didn't believe justice and equality could
be achieved without social development.
"Only by development and progress, could people be
helped out of poverty," said Wen, promising the government will gradually narrow
the gap between the rich and the poor on track of economic development.
Wen said the problems facing agriculture, rural areas
and farmers are high on the agenda of the Chinese Party and government and the
problems also concern the foundation of China's economic development.
To increase farmers' income, Wen said China will
continue to increase subsidy to farmers. "Various subsidies to farmers
reached10.28 billion yuan (1.51 billion U.S. dollars) last year and the figure
will reach 12 billion yuan this year," he said.
China will also increase grain price by a big margin
to protect farmers from the impact of international grain price drop, Wen said.
Other measures include 40 billion yuan in subsidy to
farmers who buy home appliances, farming vehicles and motor vehicles, Wen said.
The policy was designed to stimulate rural consumption to boost domestic demand
as exports weaken amid the financial crisis.
BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao said here Saturday that he hoped the mainland and Taiwan could join
hands to cope with the international financial crisis.
The mainland and Taiwan should set up an
economic exchange and cooperation mechanism through negotiation, he said.
BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao said here Saturday he has confidence in China's capital market,
noting the government has the responsibility to establish a fair, equitable and
transparent market environment.
The performance of Chinese shares are decided
by the economic fundamentals and company profitability, Wen told a netizen
grieving over his huge losses in current sluggish stock market during an online
chat.
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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao holds an
online chat with netizens jointly hosted by the central government website
and Xinhua website in Beijing, China, Feb. 28, 2009. (Xinhua/Li
Xueren)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao on Saturday showed his concern over the country's jobless migrant
workers and other unemployed people and encouraged them to start
self-employment.
Wen said he had been deeply concerned over the
employment issue, including those of migrant workers, college graduates and
jobless urban families.
BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao said Saturday private capital and priviately-owned businesses should
be boosted to cope with the ongoing global financial crisis.
Wen made the remarks while hosting his
first-ever online chat with the public.
