2015年李克强总理答中外记者会(英文实录) Time：2015-3-15Text of Premier Li's press conferenceQ: I am with The Financial Times. Last year, China's real estate market has been on the decline. This has prompted a large number of Chinese nationals to start buying homes overseas.Currently, Chinese customers have become the largest group of homebuyers in New York, Sydney and London and this has significantly driven up the local home prices. Hence some people have called into question the legitimacy of the money spent on buying these homes overseas from China.Are you concerned about the possible backlash to such massive home buying by Chinese overseas? And will the Chinese government introduce new policy measures to boost the domestic real estate market this year?A: China is advancing the full convertibility of renminbi under the capital account. It shows that China is taking further steps to open up the capital market. You talked about the phenomenon of large number of Chinese buying homes overseas and said that they have become the largest home buyers in a number of key international metropolises.I suppose that more evaluations need to be done here as to whether that is true. And as far as I'm concerned, I am not in possession of solid information about this. But what I know is that China is still the largest destination of the inflow of foreign direct investment and the number now stands at $120 billion.As the same time, the Chinese government will also encourage Chinese companies and Chinese nationals to go overseas, to make investment, and do business. In doing so, these Chinese companies and Chinese nationals need to abide by China's relevant laws and regulations and also observe the local laws.You have a Westerner's face but you speak Chinese so well. I wonder if you have bought home in China but you are welcome to do so.China is still a large developing country. Housing is not just an economic issue but also one that concerns people's livelihood. The Chinese government needs to meet the basic housing needs of the low-income people in China. And the government will take more steps this year to rebuild urban rundown areas and the dilapidated homes in urban and rural areas.The plan for such efforts this year is to increase such the building and rebuilding rundown areas and dilapidated homes by 1 million units each. The Chinese government has the responsibility to provide for the daily necessity in terms of housing for our people.The real estate market is governed by its own laws. China is such a large country with vast land that expands. There are mega cities and medium and small-size cities as well as small townships in this country. And the conditions of these different cities and townships vary significantly from one to another.Hence the central government has required the local governments enhance their responsibility to exercise their regulation of their local real estate markets.And differentiated policies need to be adopted in the light of local conditions. As the same time, urbanization is still picking up speed in China hence the housing demand in China is here to stay. We also encourage Chinese people to buy homes for their personal use or their second home. We hope to see there will be steady and sound growth of China's real estate markets in the long run. Text of Premier Li's press conferenceQ: I am with the Beijing News. Mr Premier, on many occasions, you have expressed your strong support about new forms of businesses, like e-commerce and delivery service, so I am very curious, have you ever shopped online, and what did you buy?Some people are worried that online shopping will adversely affect physical stores, what's your view about this?A: I suppose each and everyone of you here has had the experience shopping online and I am no exception. Yes, I've bought things on the Internet.Actually I have bought a few books, no so long ago, but as for what books, I don't think it will be a good idea for me split down here, no advertisement here.But I have said that I will be happy to advertise for new forms of businesses, like online shopping, express, delivery service and e-commerce, because these new forms of bossiness gave a strong boost for employment and consumption in this big country, and people are getting quite enthusiastic when they try to buy something online.I've heard such a worry that online shopping will adversely affect to physical stores. At the beginning, such a worry was only natural, but I recalled unexceptional trip that I paid to a local village in China. It's a village with 800 households, but these people have opened about 2,000 shops on the Internet.One can while imagine how vast the space for business entrepreneurs there.And I also after that visited a close by city where there is a large number of physical stores and I asked one of the shop owners that if he is concerned that the physical stores will be adversed by online shopping, but the owner showed me that he also opened an online shop and he even uploaded a video of the physical store on the Internet to show that the store is very competitive, so such the sound interaction between the online and offline has only boosted the vitality of market.To borrow a popular idea on the Internet that everyone stands a chance to fly when there is favorable wind blowing from behind. I believe with the tail wind generated by our Internet Plus strategy we will be able to bring Chinese economy off to a new level.I cannot help but remember that today, March 15th, is the day for the protection of rights and interests of consumers, so I believe all the stores no matter online and offline are honest to do the business and put the quality of products before everything else. So they protect rights and interests for consumers. Thank you.Q: (Austrian Radio and Television): I have a question on foreign policy that is very burning for the Europeans. The continuing presence of Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine.What is the position of China? Does China think that it corresponds to international law? A couple of days ago, Russian President Putin mentioned on Russian television how we planned the invasion of Crimea. Is Crimea for China a part of Russia now or is it still a part of Ukraine?A: China follows an independent foreign policy of peace. On the issue of Ukraine, China has adopted an objective and just position. We respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Some time ago in my meeting with the president of Ukraine when I visited some European countries, these are also the words that I said to him. He then asked me if he could make them public. I said no problem, use my words and publish them in newspaper.At the same time, the issue of Ukraine has added to the complexity of the geopolitical situation and also asserted its impact on the process of economic recovery. We hope that there will be a negotiated settlement of this issue through dialogue. As for Crimea, there are complex causes behind this issue.We also hope to see a political settlement of this issue through dialogue. We hope that there will be harmonious co-existence between neighbors, and what we hope to see is that there will be the pursuit of common development and win-win outcomes between European countries, between all countries in the world. I believe that is in the interests of all sides, China included. Thank you. Text of Premier Li's press conference Q: I am with Bloomberg. You once said the government needs to show the utmost determination in reforming itself and this process could be a quite painful one.As the Chinese economy comes under increased downward pressure, do you still have as firm a determination as before? And will the Chinese economy continue to slide? What will the future for the Chinese economy look like?A: You asked about the pain caused by the government self-imposed reform. Let me tell you that the pain is still there. Actually, the pain is becoming more acute, and it is being felt in more places.This is a reform the government has taken on itself. During the cause of the reform, vested interests will be upset, as the government will shatter its own powers. It's not nail-clipping. Instead, it's like taking a knife to one's own flesh. So pain is only natural, but, however painful it may be, we are determined to keep going until our job is done.The reform of streamlining administration and delegating government powers helps us to get the relationship right between the government and the market. It helps to boost vitality of the market, and put us into a stronger position to cope with downward pressure on economic growth.Last year, despite of economic slowdown, we managed to add more new urban jobs and this reform on government itself has played a very important role. We have completed the five-year task of cutting State Council review items by one third within just two years.With the reform of business system, on average each day, up to 10,000 new businesses have got registered, and increased of an over 50 percent over the preview year. This fully shows that our people represent the largest source of vitality for economic activity. And this reform by reducing the powers held in the hands of the government has actually helped us to tackle downward pressures on economic growth.At the same time, we recognized that some measures have yet to be fully implemented, and some new problems have surfaced.A couple days ago, I came across a proposal during the Two Sessions which said that it is true that government review items have been slashed.In the past to get one project approved, one needs to collect up to over 100 stamps from different governmental departments, but the number has been brought down to about 50 to 60, but still, all those long procedures have driven up the costs of business start-up and dampened people's enthusiasm for making innovations. That's a reason why the government is resolved that it will step up its efforts to streamline its administration and delegate more powers.New steps will be taken this year in this reform, and our focus is on the following three areas. First, all non-governmental review items will be canceled. We must be sure that governmental power will not be exercised when it is not stipulated by the law. There are currently over 1,200 review items by the local governments as mandated by central governmental departments.Our goal is to cut this number by over 200 in 2015. The government must not secretly hold onto powers that should be delegated, just releasing the hand brake but still keeping the foot brake on. Second, all provincial-level governments will be required to release their list of powers and list of responsibilities this year.And this task will be assigned to governments in cities and city-level counties next year. We must keep our people well informed of what powers their governments hold and put government power under public oversight to prevent the abuse of office.Third, we will explore new models for exercising better ongoing and exposed regulation. We will expand the trials for integrated law enforcement, and we will also ensure that there will be effective models for exercising regulation over such acts as cheating and swindling of market place, violating intellectual property rights, making and selling of fake or sub-standard goods, or cases involving food safety. Just as shoes must suit the feet, our administration must meet people's needs and deliver well benefits. Thank you.Q: I am with China National Radio. My question is about 2014 China's anti-corruption action as investigated many high-ranking officials, or "big tigers".I would like to know what more steps will be taken to enhance institution-building in fighting corruption. You also once said that it is also corruption for government officials to be indolent or not performing their duties, so what steps would you take to solve the problem involving those "do nothing" officials?A: The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government are committed to combating corruption andupholding integrity, since the 18th National Party Congress, the central committee of the CPC with comrade Xi Jinping as General Sectary has been taking strong efforts to ensure that all likes of corruption will be brought to account and in this process a number of high-ranking corruption officials have been investigated and dealt with, our efforts have yielded good results, and won people's supports.In enhancing institution-building in fighting corruption, we will have better resources to address both the symptoms and root cause of corruption. First we need to ensure that we run the country in according with the law and everyone is equal before the law, and no one is above the law.Second, we need to press ahead the reform of the administrative system. Just now I mentioned the reform government to stream line administration and delegate powers.This is to limit the breathing space for corruption including rent-seeking, as rent seeking is actually a common feature of various kinds of corruption.Third, the supervision and education will also be strengthened. We must make sure that government power is exercised in a transparent way and subject to public oversight.All civil servants must enhance their self-discipline, and government power can only be used for public good not personal gains. There must be no acting irresponsibly or inaction on the part of government officials. And there is no rule for incompetence, or indolence on the part of government officials. We also need to step up the accountability system.Q: I am with The Straits Times. How the new normal developing model affects and benefits China? And what impact it will bring to the country and the world?What is your perspective in viewing the new normal model?A: As Chinese economy has entered the phase of the new normal, this year we set the anticipated GDP rate approximately 7 percent. It is true that we have adjusted downward somewhat our GDP growth target, but it will by no means easy to meet this target.Because China's economic aggregate keeps expanding and now the size of Chinese economy is valued at about $10 trillion, so 7 percent increase in today China's economy is equivalent a total size of the economy of a medium-sized country.We want further upgrade China's economy to a medium level of development and maintain China's economic at a medium speed. We want pursue a growth that has improved quality and performance, this will help to build a solid foundation for us to achieve modernization, it would also be China's contribution to global economic growth.I sense some concerns in your question about China economic growth and when that journalist from Bloomberg asked me question there was also such worries about slowing economic growth in China.I have said in many occasions under this new normal state, we need to ensure that China's economy operates within a proper range and if our growth speed can't hold to lower range of our range of economic operation andeffect the employment situation and increase of people's income, we are prepared to step up our targeted macro-economic regulation to boost the current market confidence while at the same time maintaining continuing about macro-economic policies to meet long-term market expectations.The good news is in the past a couple of years, we did not result to massive stimulus measures for economic growth that has made possible for us have fairly underroom to exercise macro-economic regulation and we still have the host of policy instrument at our disposal.As a same time, I realized there is considerable downward pressure on China's growth and we still face multiple challenges, this requires the government must strike a proper balance between maintaining steady growth and making structural adjustment.In weiqi, a kind of chess board game invented by Chinese one is to plans on the big site and get the key rule right, when it come to China's economy, we must meet both and maintain steady growth and making structural adjustment. This will be able to get a handle on big situation, this requires that we have a vision, persuasion and courage. With joint effort, we are able to maintain the long-term positive effect for the overall Chinese economy.Q: I am with China Business News. Mr Premier, on many occasions you stressed the importance of the mass entrepreneurship and innovation regard as the new engine viewing China's economic growth.There are also people who say that it is a personal decision to start a business and should be a market economy behavior. So why should the government spend so much time and energy on this?A: I appreciate your intention of saving the government much time and energy. This is something the government must do, because mass entrepreneurship and innovation in itself is a major reform endeavor and this reform is also inspired by the experience we have gained from the past experiences.More than 30 years ago it was the introduction of household contracts responsibility system that has brought into full play the initiative of the vast number of Chinese farmers, because our people could move freely across provinces and cities. Now tens of thousands of Chinese farmers have migrated into cities, which has created is the miracle of China's economic development.Last year when the government pursued the reform of the business systems to streamline its administration, I recalled that I paid a visit to one of the local venues for business registration and I came across a woman who was already retired.At that time, the government just replaced the paid-in-capital registration requirements. This has given much enthusiasm to those who wanted to start their own business. This woman is one: she told me that she wanted to register a wedding service company because she was well versed with the traditional ways of holding such wedding ceremonies.She believed she had competitive edge in providing such services so she wanted to register a company under her name. I also paid several visits to these on venture cafes and makers' spaces, where I see that the young people there - they have brilliant ideas - and when their ideas are put into practice and produce actual products, theyactually boost market demand. I believe there are a lot of people with real talents among the people and we must lift all the restrictions so that they can bring their talent to best use.To boost market vitality, the government must eliminate roadblocks and pave the way for people to tap their entrepreneurship.The government plans to do more in this regard in 2015.Market access will be further relaxed; business license and all the required certificates will be required to be integrated into one single certificate; and people shouldn't have to go to so much trouble to get business registered in some areas of the services sector.The government also needs to foster more favorable conditions especially for those micro and small-businesses; there needs to be the availability of low-rent maker spaces to add wings to entrepreneurship of our people. The government will also fully leverage the national guidance fund to encourage the participation of seed capital and also our taxes and fees will be further reduced to ensure that those small businesses will be able to forge ahead with a light pack.A country could achieve prosperity when his people see in initiative is brought into full play. There will be much vitality in economic activity when there's ample business opportunities and choices for consumers.To encourage mass entrepreneurship and innovation we want to help more people become better off and help more people achieve full potential in their life. This will also help us adjust the income distribution structure and promote social fairness.In particular we want to ensure that young people especially those children from poor families will have equal access to opportunities for upward mobility. Thank you.Q: I am with the Hunffington Post. In Under the Dome, a documentary made by Chai Jing, she complained about the big oil companies like Sinopec and China National Petroleum Corp, have been a block to the introduction of policies of environmental protection and law enforcement in this field.For example, in the setting of quality standards of gasoline consumed as well as the introduction of wider use of natural gas.My question is that is it true that the two companies are posing obstacles to the enforcement of environmental protection laws and policies? If so, what steps will the Chinese government take to remove the obstacle?A: I understand the focus of all your questions is about tackling environmental pollution, especially the smog. this is a concern on top of most people's mind.I want to tell you that the Chinese government is determined to tackle environmental pollution, and tremendous efforts have been made in this regard. The progress we have made still fall far short of expectation of our people. Last year I said that the Chinese government would declare a war against environmental pollution. We are determined to carry forward our efforts until we achieve our goal.We must get the focus of our efforts right. This year our focus will be to ensure the full implementation of the newly revised environmental protection law.For all illegal production and emissions, they will all be brought to justice and held accountable. We need to make the cost for pollution too high to bear. More support needs to be given to these environmental law enforcement departments, including capacity building.No one can use his power to meddle with law enforcement in this regard. The law enforcement department should also have the courage to take charge and fulfill their due responsibilities.Laxity in the law enforcement will be dealt with, and their relaxation of duties or abuse of office will be handled in accordance with the law. We must ensure that the law will work as a powerful and effective in fighting the pollution, instead of being soft as a Cohen Candy.To tackle environmental pollution is a systematic effort that involves a lot of efforts and areas. A few days ago I came across a media report that said that in this year's government work report, the paragraph addressing the environmental treatment came quite in the back.But I want to draw your attention to one big difference in this year's government work report. That is our targets for energy conservation and emission reduction are put together with all these major targets of economic and social development, which all come very early in the government work report.And we also need to see that many parts of the report, be it adjusting the economic structure or improving the quality of fuel use, have something to do with environmental treatment.This is going to take a process and requires the joint efforts of the whole society. It may be difficult to change the natural environmental he lives in any time soon, but one can always change the way he behaves. Thank you!Q: I am with CCTV. As China's economic development enters into a new normal, people are also thinking how we can bring our demographic scale and the growth trend compatible with such a new normal state.And last year, married couples can have a second child if one of the parents is a single child.And hence during this year's two sessions, many people are calling for fully lifting the second child restrictions. I am wondering if this is one of the goals on the agenda of the government in reforming its family planning policy and if so, is there a time table for that to happen?A: About China's population policy, as you said last year, married couples can now have a second child if one of the parents is the single child.Currently we are conducting a comprehensive review of how this policy has been implemented.Based on the outcome of this comprehensive review, we will also take into account China's economic and social development situation and changes in our demographic structure.Both the pros and the cons will be weighed, and we will only make improvements, adjustments to our policy in accordance with all these legal procedure. Thank you.Q: I am with Asahi Shimbun News. This year marks the 70 anniversary of the end of WWII. I'd like to ask your outlook on history, Mr Premier.We've also seen more Chinese tourists have traveled to Japan and bought a lot of things there, but at the same time the numbers of Japanese tourists visiting China as well as Japanese investment in China have both been on the decline.How do you see such a situation and how do you view the possible impact of China's planed commemoration activities including the military parade on the sentiments of the Japanese people?A: This year marks the 70th anniversary of victory of the Chinese people's resistance against Japanese aggression and the world anti-fascist war.Not only China but also many countries in the world have planned to hold diverse forms of commemoration activities. The purpose of these activities is to firmly bear in mind that the lessons gained from the past and ensure that that kind of history will never repeat itself.The purpose is to uphold the outcomes of the World War II and the post-war international order and international laws to maintain enduring peace of mankind.It's true that the current China-Japan relationship is in difficulty. The root of the problem is how that war and that part of the history are viewed.One needs to hold the right outlook on history and that means one needs to take history as mirror and at the same time look to the future.For leaders of a country, while inheriting the historical achievements made by their forefathers, also need to show the historical responsibilities for crimes made in the past.The war of aggression imposed on the Chinese people by the Japanese militaries brought untold sufferings and the average people in Japan were also victims of that war. At such a critical moment this year, there is both a test and an opportunity for China-Japan relationship.If leaders of Japan can face history squarely and maintain consistency in how they view that part of history, there will be opportunities for improvement and further growth of China-Japan relations. It will also create favorable conditions for the growth of business relationship between the two countries. Thank you.Text of Premier Li's press conferenceQ: I am with Xinhua News Agency. Since the beginning of last year, the banks of NPL ratio has been increasing, and cases of financial risk of shadow banking have occurred from time to time.And soon many local governments need to have a lot of debt being paid. As the downward pressure on Chinese economy grows, how do you see these building up of financial risks?A: I think our financial risks are at the center of the questions you just raised. It's true that there have been individual cases of financial risks in China. But at the same time, we are fully capable of avoiding systemic and regional risks.Chinese economy continues to operate within the proper range, and there is a very high saving rate in China. Moreover, 70 percent of local governments' debts are in the form of investment, which supposes to have a quite good prospect for yielding returns. And we are also regulating these local governments financing vehicles to insure that we will keep the front doors open and at the same time to block those back doors.At the same time, Chinese banks have very high capital adequacy ratio and ample previsions. It's true that there is non-performing alarm and the NPL ratio has picked up somewhat. But still the ratio of NPL in China is quite low internationally.Individual financial cases of financial cases will be allowed with the encourage practices of balancing one's book in the market based way.We need to guard against moral hazard and raise the people's awareness of these financial risks.This year, we are going to introduce this deposit insurance system and continue to develop multi-tiered capital markets and lower the companies leverage ratio. All these efforts will help insure the financial services can better serve the real economy.Q: I am with Taiwan's TVBS: There have been certain developments in Taiwan last year, which have affected the business cooperation between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits.As the mainland adjusts its economic structure and as mainland economy slows down, the businesspeople operating on the mainland also run into difficulties.So my question is what steps will the mainland take to boost the cross-Straits business cooperation, to ensure that the businesses and people from Taiwan can continue to have priority access to the mainland's development opportunities?A: Peoples on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are members of one big family as long as we continue to adhere to the One-China Principle and 1992 Consensus, oppose 'Taiwan Independence', and uphold peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.We will be able to lay more solid foundation for cross-Straits business cooperation and expand the room for such business times.To boost the economic cooperation between the two sides, we need to get both wheels in motion: the one wheel is to enhance institution building, for example, to continue to pursue the follow-up consultations on ECFA (Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement); the other wheel is about further mutual opening-up, as far as the。
