中国新闻与报道. Language Promoting Sino-Russian Cultural Exchanges

Transcription

1 China News and Report 中国新闻与报道 NO. 9 May 1, 2010 Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Meets with Overseas Delegates Attending the Annual Meeting of the China Development Forum Growing Imports Benefit Everybody Language Promoting Sino-Russian Cultural Exchanges Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Meets with Overseas Delegates Attending the Annual Meeting of the China Development Forum Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council met in the Great Hall of the People with more than 60 overseas delegates attending the 2010 annual meeting of the China Development Forum on the afternoon of March 22. The two sides held an in-depth discussion on such issues as the world economic situation, especially China s continuous efforts to cope with the international financial crisis, maintaining stable and relatively fast economic growth, speeding up the transformation of China s economic development mode, and promoting international economic and financial cooperation. At the beginning of the meeting, Wen said, I have met with overseas delegates attending the China Devel- opment Forum for eight years in a row. Thank you for paying close attention to China s reform, opening up and development. You traveled thousands of miles to China just because you have confidence in this country. China will strengthen your confidence with its own actions and performance. This meeting today is different from those in the past in two ways: First, the ministers of several key departments of the State Council are present; second, our conversation is completely open to journalists. I hope you say all you know and say it without reservation. HSBC Group Chairman Stephen Green asked the first question about the Chinese Government s efforts to build a sound financial system and develop the capital market. Published by the Editorial Board of Information Office of the State Council, People s Republic of China Printed by Foreign Languages Printing House, Beijing, China

2 WEN: One important reason that China can better respond to the international financial crisis is that its financial system is relatively healthy and hence has not been heavily affected. But China s financial system is not without problems. It is only because Chinese banks did not have highly leveraged investment-related risks. In fact, Europe and the United States are more experienced than we are in banking regulation. After all, you have a history of more than 100 years, while we only have more than 20 years. When I first visited the Bank of England, my biggest impression was that it has many doors and small windows. I didn t expect that the European banking sector would also be involved in the international financial crisis. We will build a comprehensive, healthy and sustainable financial system through reform. We implemented a moderately relaxed monetary policy last year in order to maintain sufficient liquidity and balance and sustainability of loans, but our expectations were not fully fulfilled. This shows that we still have problems of financial regulation and supervision. Some people who don t know the truth think that the Chinese Government has expanded the credit scale on purpose. Actually, this is something I worry about every day. At the Summer Davos Forum last year, I made it clear that we should better manage inflation expectations, and credit management was consequently strengthened. However, easy loans recurred in January this year, indicating the existence of systemic problems. Therefore, China cannot stop its financial reform and should instead continue to deepen it. The financial crisis has not ended yet, and the most pressing task for us at present is to prevent risks to the system. China attaches great importance to developing the capital market. We have not relaxed reform of the capital market even in the most difficult times. Last year China launched a second board. The goal of reform is to change from the dominance of indirect financing to a combination of indirect and direct financing and give full play to the role of the capital market. Ellen Kullman, Chair and CEO of DuPont, asked how the Chinese Government will use advanced technologies, including biotechnology, to promote its future sustainable economic growth. WEN: We welcome multinational companies to invest in China. The real economy in China was most heavily affected by the financial crisis. However, some companies have survived the difficulties and developed further thanks to their technological strength and talented employees. Multinational companies will play a major role in coping with the economic crisis and helping the world economy recover. Reviewing the past, several major world economic crises were usually followed by major technological changes. It is precisely technological revolution that drives technological breakthroughs, helps overcome economic crisis and fuels economic development. Our hope for the future of the Chinese economy relies on scientific and technological progress, especially new and high-end technologies including biotechnology and life sciences. There is no limit to the development of biotechnology and life sciences, which are closely linked with human survival and are indispensable to people s daily lives. China has a large population, and biotechnology and life sciences enjoy great development and market potential here. China is willing to strengthen cooperation with companies all over the world which have advanced technologies. The Chinese Government will create opportunities for you and asks you not to miss out on those opportunities. London School of Economics and Political Science professor Nicholas Stern asked whether China will set higher targets for energy efficiency and emissions reduction in the 12th Five-Year Plan. WEN: The issue of greenhouse gas emissions is mainly the result of the industrialization of developed countries over more than 100 years. A developing country like China does not have high cumulative emissions or per-capita emissions. However, as a responsible developing country, we are sincerely raising our own targets for emissions reduction. China will never follow the old path of developed countries of pollution first and treatment second. Energy efficiency and emissions reduction, as a major strategic policy, runs throughout the 11th and 12th Five-Year Plans and the future development process as well. In the 11th Five-Year Plan, our goal is to cut energy consumption per unit of GDP by 20 percent within five years. We have paid a heavy price to reach this goal. We 2 may 1, 2010

3 have reduced iron and steel output capacity by nearly 100 million tons, small thermal power capacity by 60 million KW and cement capacity as well over the past four years, which has put serious pressure on employment. We insist on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. Our emissions reductions target is independently set and binding. It has been approved by the National People s Congress and is subject to evaluation. At the Copenhagen Climate Conference, on behalf of the Chinese Government, I solemnly announced the target of reducing China s carbon emissions intensity by 40 to 45 percent by the year We will integrate this target into our 12th Five-Year Plan. China s target for emissions reduction is not attached to any conditions and we will strive to do even better. C.V. Starr & Company Chairman Maurice Greenberg asked how to handle the differences between major powers in tackling the financial crisis. WEN: We need to pull together and help each other in the face of the financial crisis. At the beginning of the crisis, I appealed to people to build confidence and courage. Now I want to stress the need for everyone to remain calm and sober. The world economy has shown signs of recovery, but the road to recovery is by no means smooth sailing. I appeal once again to all responsible countries and to every entrepreneur with a conscience not to wage a trade war or currency war because it is not helpful for us to overcome difficulties. What we need now is mutual respect, equal consultation and closer cooperation. China can make three promises: First, to handle our own affairs well and not cause trouble to the world; second, not to beggar our neighbor; and third, to work with other countries to advance reform of the international financial system, reinforce policy coordination, handle the crisis together and ensure a more stable recovery. Morgan Stanley Asia Chairman Stephen Roach said there is wide consensus on two issues. First, countries should avoid falling into the trap of trade friction and protectionism. Second, China should accelerate the transformation of its economic development mode. He asked Wen his opinion on those two issues. WEN: Like many countries in the world, China advocates free trade. Only with free trade can we maintain economic dynamism, world harmony and diversity of life. I d like to take this opportunity to convey a message to the international community that China will never seek a trade surplus and, on the contrary, will try its best to expand imports. It is the direction of our long-term efforts to keep the basic balance of international payments. China s economic growth last year was mainly driven by domestic demand. Our trade surplus is decreasing steadily and we even had a trade deficit in early March this year. Even before the international financial crisis, I pointed out that the Chinese economy had uncoordinated, unbalanced and unsustainable problems. Although, in general, China has performed relatively well in the fight against the crisis, many problems have been exposed. This crisis is in fact a challenge to China s economic development mode. I used urgent to describe our task of changing the economic growth mode in the Government Work Report. The transformation of our development mode should cover the following aspects: Stick to the expansion of domestic demand as a long-term strategic policy without wavering; narrow the urban-rural gaps and regional disparities and expand household consumption; speed up development of the service industry, focus on the development of emerging sectors of the secondary industry, seek stable development of the first industry and consolidate the foundational role of agriculture. Changing the development mode is a long-term and arduous task. The 2 million unemployed citizens in the United States upset its government greatly, but China faces unemployment pressure of 200 million instead of 2 million. There exist large gaps between rural and urban areas in China. Just yesterday I visited China s southwestern arid area in Yunnan and still saw two cattle yoked together for tilling there. This will influence China s sustainable development. We will give priority to changing the development mode when formulating the 12th Five- Year plan. U.S.-China Business Council Chairman Andrew Liveris asked about Wen s views on the upcoming second China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue in May. WEN: The China-U.S. relationship is very impor- may 1,

4 tant. It not only is linked with the fundamental interests of the Chinese and American people, but also to some extent goes beyond the borders of the two nations. Bilateral economic and trade relations are a major part of the bilateral relationship. Although China and the United States have some problems and conflicts, solutions can surely be found on the precondition of equal consultation, mutual benefit and reciprocity. The China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue in May is a very important event and presents a key opportunity for the two sides to solve conflicts and problems. We attach great importance to it. There is a saying in China that where hills bend, streams wind and the pathway seems to end and past dark willows and flowers in bloom lies another village. Recalling the past, the problems and conflicts between China and the United States have been solved one by one and the political and economic relations between our two countries will grow closer, which makes the two peoples full of confidence in the bilateral relationship. You serve as the bridge of friendship between China and the United States. I want to send this information through you to the U.S. business community that we welcome American companies to invest in China and that China will import more American products. Asian Development Bank President Haruhiko Kuroda asked how the Chinese Government will strengthen the social security system and gradually increase the proportion of residents income to national income. WEN: We will make greater efforts to improve social equality and build a comprehensive social security system. China has more than 40 million people living in absolute poverty and a low-income population of 270 million. A comprehensive social security system is especially meaningful for these disadvantaged groups. So far we have built the initial framework of a social security system. A pension plan has been widely implemented in the cities, and we will carry out pilot pension plans in 23 percent of the countryside this year. The pension plan for farmers is a historic change. Health insurance, although the level is still relatively low, now covers 1.24 billion people in China. The new rural cooperative medical system helps farmers afford hospital services. We have also specially established a social security fund. We have realized free compulsory education in a real sense. We recently implemented the policy of tuition exemption for poor rural students at secondary vocational schools and increased grants by tenfold. There are three ways to increase residents income: First, gradually increase the proportion of residents income to the entire national income; second, gradually increase the proportion of workers salary income to factor income; third, use financial and tax leverage to narrow the income gap and promote social security in secondary distribution. All of these efforts are still in the initial stage and are not yet perfect, but we will continue our efforts relentlessly. China Development Forum President of the foreign side Alan Mulally expressed confidence in China s future development and asked what role foreign entrepreneurs will play in China s growth. WEN: I have mentioned that more opportunities will be created in the future to communicate with entrepreneurs from different countries. Today is not the first one and surely not the last. You are always welcome in China. The delegates included senior officials from international organizations, senior executives of leading multinational companies, and well-known international scholars. Growing Imports Benefit Everybody The world economy has shown signs of sustained recovery and China will continue to lead growth, says a report on the development indicators of major economies, released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in January. Driving Force Among a string of positive economic signs for China s economy, a huge domestic market and low tariffs have triggered a boom in its imports. This, in turn, has strongly boosted economic growth in neighboring countries. 4 may 1, 2010

5 In the first two months of 2010, about 43,700 tons of fruit products worth a total of nearly $ million from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were exported to China through Shenzhen Customs alone. Quantity and total value showed year-on-year growth of percent and percent respectively. Since the official launch of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area on January 1 this year, China s imports from the six ASEAN countries have far exceeded reciprocal imports, said Yao Jian, spokesman of the Ministry of Commerce, on March 16. ASEAN countries are not alone in benefiting from China s dynamic economic growth. China s imports in February reached $86.91 billion, up by 44.7 percent year on year, says the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This provided a huge market for the world economy. China has become many countries vital export market, Yao said. In 2009 China was the biggest importer from Japan, Australia, South Korea, ASEAN, Brazil and South Africa and the third largest importer from the United States, EU and India. The ratios of these countries exports to China against their total exports all grew in This indicates the stimulus package China set in place to overcome the financial crisis and support its economic growth not only helped its own economy to hold up, but also contributed significantly to the recovery of global economy from the financial crisis. China is becoming an important driving force for the world economy. China s fast economic growth is critical to the world economy in the current economic environment, World Economic Forum Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab said. The country s growth remained robust even as the world economy slowed down and would become a leading component of future global economic growth. New Normalcy Many people believe the global economy is entering an era of new normalcy after the financial crisis. Zhang Xiaojing, an economist from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences says he believed the new normalcy is characterized by further lessening of potential growth rates, restructuring of major economies, transformation of economic growth modes, rebalance in the global economy, restrictions on the development of globalization-- especially in the financial field, greater emphasis on industrial development by major economies and the revival of reindustrialization proposals in developed countries. The Chinese Government is adopting timely and forceful macroeconomic control measures to ameliorate the impact of the downturn. China s gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 8.7 percent in 2009, exceeding the pre-set goal of 8-percent GDP growth. In 2010, the government should continue to consolidate the achievements of macroeconomic control in order to maintain stable and rapid economic growth, and also be alert to possible inflation, said Jin Mengqin, an associate professor from the Department of the National Economic Management at Renmin University of China. Moreover, the country should take practical measures to promote economic restructuring. So how can China maintain its rapid economic growth in 2010? The answer is self-evident. It is time for the country to transform its economic growth mode. Transformation Priority China s retail sales of consumer goods totaled 2.51 trillion yuan ($367.6 million) in the first two months this year, an increase of 17.9 percent year on year. The growth rate was 2.7 percentage points higher than the same period last year, and 2.4 percentage points higher than 2009 s annual rate, the latest statistics from the NBS say. China already has the economic foundation to transform its economic growth mode because it has enormous consumption ability. To maintain sustained and stable growth in consumer demand, it is essential to raise the income of ordinary people. After taking the first step to make the people wealthier, government policies should incline to financing the medical care, education and social security systems in order to alleviate people s economic burdens. It all comes down to stimulating consumption and returning wealth to the people, said Li Yiping, Professor at the School of Economics of Renmin University of China. During the new round of industrial restructuring, may 1,

6 a worldwide race in new energies has already begun. Although China has achieved significant progress in developing low-carbon industries, especially new ones, it still lags behind developed countries in key and core technologies in new energies, energy conservation, emissions reduction and low-carbon technologies. The key to China s energy strategy, and important in achieving its energy localization and clean and sustainable energy, is renewable energy, said Huang Qili, an academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering. The country needs to actively encourage and guide the sound and rapid development of renewable energies by promoting technological progress, he said. This meant adopting favorable policies, taking advantage of a market economy, achieving innovation in management and formulating practical incentive policies according to principles of adjusting energy structures and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Language Promoting Sino-Russian Cultural Exchanges The Year of the Chinese Language in Russia and the Year of the Russian Language in China both indicate the traditional friendship and close ties between China and Russia. Following the Year of the Russian Language in China in 2009, the Year of the Chinese Language was inaugurated in Moscow on March 23, Shortly before the inauguration ceremony, People s Daily spoke to Yuan Guiren, Chinese Minister of Education and Vice Chairman of the Chinese Organizing Committee for Chinese- Russian Language Years. People s Daily: In recent years there have been frequent cultural exchanges between China and Russia. The Year of China in Russia, the Year of Russia in China, the Year of the Chinese Language in Russia and the Year of the Russian Language in China have resonated positively with Chinese and Russians. As the minister of education and vice chairman of the Chinese Organizing Committee for Chinese-Russian Language Years, could you please give us some background information about these language events? How do you see their strategic importance? Yuan Guiren: China and Russia are friendly neighbors. Contacts between their people are becoming increasingly frequent. The Year of Russia in China in 2006 and the Year of China in Russia in 2007 both proved big successes. Shortly before the two programs ended, the two countries agreed to hold the Year of the Russian Language in China in 2009 and the Year of the Chinese Language in Russia in They made the decision in an effort to sustain the achievements of the previous years, further enhance our traditional friendship, consolidate social foundations for their long-term, good neighborly relations, promote practical cooperation in diverse fields and advance our strategic cooperative partnership. This partnership has reached a high level and is developing vigorously. The two countries cooperation in various areas keeps broadening and deepening. Cultural exchanges, in particular, are more active than ever, imbuing Chinese and Russian people with a sense of lasting friendship and peace. Against this backdrop, the language years will further promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two nations, in particular between their young people. They will also help lay a more solid foundation for the China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership, and help upgrade it. The language years are expected to become new milestones in the history of Sino-Russian relations. Could you please briefly summarize the main points of the Year of the Russian Language, which was successfully held in China in 2009? It achieved great success under the guidance of the two countries state leaders. During the year, more than 260 events were held in 22 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, covering the fields of 6 may 1, 2010

7 education, culture, media, movies and publishing. Several hundred thousand Chinese college students in the more than 100 universities that offer Russian as a special area of study directly took part. Hundreds of millions of others from all sectors of society were also directly or indirectly involved. The Year of the Russian Language had a large number of highlights. Take the Chinese Singing Russian Songs competition. Preliminary contests were held in eight regional divisions across China, attracting more than 120,000 fans of Russian songs. It sparked a craze for singing Russian songs throughout the country. As part of the year, China and Russia arranged a recuperation tour to Russia for a second group of more than 500 primary and secondary school students from earthquake-hit areas in China s Sichuan Province. This initiative intended to implement important consensus reached between the two countries heads of state in May 2008 when Russia said it would provide recuperation for 1,570 children from earthquake-hit areas. The year s grand opening ceremony in China on March 27, 2009 featured a distinctive theme and was held in a warm atmosphere. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sent congratulatory messages and Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov attended the ceremony. Later, on October 13, a ceremony was held to mark both the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Russia and the end of the Year of the Russian Language in China. Wen and Putin attended the ceremony and spoke highly of the Year of the Russian Language in China in their respective speeches. Before the closing ceremony, Wen and Putin presented awards to six Chinese experts for their outstanding contributions to Russian language teaching in China and the winners of the Chinese Singing Russian Songs competition. During the Year, China and Russia not only held a wide range of cultural programs, but also shaped platforms for long-term cooperation. For instance, they established five centers for Russian studies and four bases for China-Russia college student exchanges in Chinese universities. China Central Television also launched a Russian channel. The success of the Year of the Russian Language in China injected new vigor into Sino-Russian cultural exchanges and cooperation, while giving more substance to the two countries partnership. Could you introduce the Year of Chinese Language in Russia this year? What are your expectations for the event? We will hold the Year of the Chinese Language in Russia this year. On December 31, 2009, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev declared the opening of the event in the New Year greetings they sent to each other. We will hold 87 programs for the Year as approved by the 10th meeting of the China- Russia Intergovernmental Committee on Cultural Cooperation on October 10, The programs, covering the fields of education, culture, media, movies and publishing, will include a language contest, a singing contest, students parties, academic seminars, correspondence between Chinese and Russian students, exhibitions, the establishment of institutions and cooperative platforms, a music week and a cultural week. The programs will be held in Russian cities across the Eurasian Continent, from Russia s Far East and Siberia to its west, with Moscow as the center. An opening ceremony is scheduled at the Kremlin on March 23, 2010 to inaugurate the Year. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and Russian Prime Minister Putin will attend the ceremony, at which college students art troupes from China and Russia will stage excellent performances. We are fully aware of the strategic importance of this year. We will work closely with our Russian colleagues to present a well-organized event, and apply our experience in hosting the Year of the Russian Language to the Year of the Chinese Language in a bid to design and conduct all programs to a high standard. We will extensively cover the programs via media outlets such as newspapers, TV, radio and websites to keep people in the two countries well informed. I m confident that, with the joint efforts of China and may 1,

8 Russia, we will be able to make the year a success and so bring the important consensus between the two countries heads of state into reality. The Year in Russia will not only help promote Chinese language teaching in Russia and fuel enthusiasm for language learning, but also contribute to enhanced Sino-Russian cultural exchanges and integration. The Year of the Chinese Language in Russia and the Year of the Russian Language in China will greatly promote the teaching of Chinese in Russia and the teaching of Russian in China respectively. Could you tell us about the language teaching exchanges? Within the frameworks of the Year of China, the Year of Russia, the Year of the Russian Language and the Year of the Chinese Language, China and Russia have held several hundred language and culture programs. Bilateral exchanges in this respect are now in full bloom. Language teaching exchanges between China and Russia have also thrived. More than 18,000 Chinese are studying in Russia, while more than 10,000 Russians are studying in China. To date, 12 Confucius Institutes, two Confucius Classes and a Radio Confucius Institute have been established in Russia. Moreover, seven centers for Russian studies have been set up in Chinese universities. During the Year of the Chinese Language in Russia in 2010, the two countries plan to establish five Confucius Institutes in Russia and five centers for Russian studies in China. Initial statistics show more than 100 Chinese universities offer Russian as a special area of study, with Russian majors exceeding 10,000. More than 400 Chinese universities offer Russian courses, and more than 40,000 Chinese college students are learning Russian as a foreign language. Nearly 100,000 secondary school students and about 3,000 primary school students in China are also learning Russian. In Russia, about 100 universities offer Chinese courses, with Chinese learners numbering 10,000. Thirteen primary and secondary schools in Moscow offer Chinese lessons to more than 2,000 students. Many primary and secondary schools in Russia s Far East and Siberia regions also have Chinese courses. What role do you think languages can play in promoting cultural integration? What new plans do you have in mind to promote the Chinese language worldwide? As vehicles of culture and tools for communication, languages serve as bridges to facilitate links between different nations. Renowned Russian author Anton Chekhov said something to the effect that the more noble a nation s culture is, the more vivid its language will be. Chinese is one of the most ancient and vital languages in the world and has a history of more than 3,000 years. Nearly 1.4 billion people speak Chinese as their mother tongue. It is one of the working languages of the UN as well. The Year of the Chinese Language in Russia will enable Russian people to have a better understanding of Chinese history, culture and art, and contribute greatly to the two countries enhancing exchanges and friendship. It is the consistent position of the Chinese Government to encourage cross-cultural exchanges. Our decision to hold language years in China and Russia has sparked great enthusiasm for language learning in both countries, while providing a striking example of crosslingual and cross-cultural exchanges between different nations. We will take this opportunity to promote exchanges about Chinese language and other languages. In this way, we will try to let China know more about the world, let the world know more about China, and enhance friendship between Chinese people and people in other countries. Comments and suggestions from our readers are appreciated. shuangqin2004@china.com.cn Distributed by Circulation Department Address: 225 Chaoyangmennei Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing , People s Republic of China Tel: Available through the China Internet Information Center at and 8 may 1, 2010