第二篇 Passage 2

Premier Zhu Answers Questions By the Press

(The following are some of the questions and answers by the press and Premier Zhu Rongji at the Fifth Session of the Ninth NPC)

Q: Despite the sluggish world economy, China has set its economic growth forecast for this year at 7 percent. Is this growth rate achievable? And what major measures will be taken?

A: It is true that we have set our forecast of economic growth rate at 7 percent. This figure was arrived at after we gave careful consideration to all the factors, including the slow-down in world economic growth. So 7 percent is within reach. As for the specific measures we are going to adopt to achieve this growth rate, I have already outlined them in the Government Work Report. Judging from our economic performance in the first quarter of this year, the result is actually better than I expected. According to forecast of the State Statistical Bureau, the GDP of the first quarter of this year will grow by 7.5 percent over the same period last year. This gives me much confidence that we will be able to achieve the 7 percent growth rate.

Q: I have two questions. One is related to the Japan-China relationship. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries. We can expect to see frequent high-level exchanges between the leaders of the two countries. According to my information, through diplomatic channels, the Chinese side expressed the hope that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Japan can come to China for a visit. My question is, will their visit facilitate the growth of bilateral ties and will the Chinese people welcome them? The second question is related to China’s internal matters. Now in Chinese society, there has been the problem of widening gap between high-income and low-income people. Some experts have called for the improvement of the situation and think it necessary to cultivate and expand the so-called “middle class”. Do you agree to such a view? If yes, what measures are you going to adopt?

A: This year marks the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan. The year before last, the Chinese and Japanese sides reached the agreement that this year will be the Year of China-Japan Friendship and a series of events will be organized to celebrate the occasion and to strengthen contact and exchanges between the two sides. In China we will have the Year of Japanese Culture and in Japan, the Year of Chinese Culture. As for the invitation to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Japan, we have made our wishes known to the Japanese side a long time ago. I am confident that once they are in China, the Chinese people will warmly welcome them.

Concerning your second question that referred to the widening gap between the rich and the poor, I think that this problem does exist. You may well still remember that Mr. Deng Xiaoping used to say that we should allow some people to get rich first, which means that inevitably some people are yet to get rich. So within a certain historical period of time, the widening of the gap between the rich and the poor seems unavoidable.

However, while we implement the policy to enable some people get rich first, we always adopt policies to enable low-income groups. How to increase the income of farmers is a subject to which I devoted a considerable amount of my time when I delivered the Government Work Report and it has been regarded as the central task of this government. We have also attached great importance to the development of the social security system, which will take care of laid-off workers, the unemployed and the retirees. These are the priorities of our work. Apart from budgetary allocations, the most important means to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor is the taxation policy, which means to help the groups who are yet to get rich through our taxation policy. I believe that this problem will be solved after a certain period of time.

Q: Right now, discussions are underway between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland on facilitating closer economic and trade ties between the two sides having arrangements similar to a free trade area. My question is, what measures will the Central Government adopt to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as the financial center in Asia.

A: Since the establishment of Hong Kong SAR government, Hong Kong has encountered temporary economic difficulties due to the impact of the Asian Financial Crisis. Nevertheless, I always believe that Hong Kong still has incomparable advantages. Hong Kong’s GDP is about the same size as that of Guangdong Province. No major city in the Chinese mainland can surpass Hong Kong in the near term. I believe Hong Kong will be able to overcome its temporary economic difficulties. We have every confidence in that.

As for how the central government will help and cooperate with HK SAR government, right now, officials from the Central Government and HK SAR government are having close consultations. Anything that will bring tangible benefits to Hong Kong, as long as it’s feasible, the Central Government will give it full support. I am confident that Hong Kong will surely maintain its status as a financial center in Asia. With China’s accession to the WTO, Hong Kong is blessed with even more opportunity.

课文词语 Words and Expressions from the Text

SAR government 特别行政区政府

sluggish world economy 低迷的世界经济

economic growth forecast 经济增长的预测目标

through diplomatic channels 通过外交渠道

implement a policy 执行政策

laid-off workers 下岗职工

budgetary allocations 财政预算分配

the priorities of our work 工作之重点

bring tangible benefits to… 给……带来实惠