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BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev held talks in Beijing Thursday afternoon.     The heads of states agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in all fields and join hands to tackle the challenge of international financial crisis. After the talks, Hu and Nazarbayev signed a joint declaration and witnessed the signing of 10 agreements on cooperation in the fields of transport, education, agriculture and telecommunications. Chinese President Hu Jintao(R) shakes hands with Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev in Beijing, China, April 16, 2009.    President Hu said the strategic partnership between China and Kazakhstan had maintained a fast growth in recent years. The two countries have maintained frequent high-level contacts, political mutual trust, expansion of practical cooperation and good collaboration within the multilateral frameworks. Chinese President Hu Jintao(L) and Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev review honor guards at the welcoming ceremony in honor of Kazakhstan's President in Beijing, China, April 16, 2009. Hu expressed gratitude to Kazakhstan for supporting China on such major issues as Taiwan, Tibet and the holding of Beijing Olympics and Paralympics.     Nazarbayev said Kazakhstan values the development of friendly and cooperative relations with China. He said China has raised its status in the international community by successfully holding the Olympic Games and launching the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft.     He said the effective measures taken by the Chinese government to cope with the global financial crisis have benefited not only the Chinese economy, but also the world economic growth.     Hu said the Chinese government always gives priority to developing the strategic partnership with Kazakhstan. Hu suggested that the two countries should work on four areas.     Firstly, Hu said the two countries should continue to enhance high-level contact, improve cooperative mechanism and deepen political links. The leaders of the two countries should maintain close contact. The governments of the two countries should give full play to the role of China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee to increase communication and coordination. The parliaments and political parties of the two countries should carry out exchanges in various forms on the experience of governing their respective countries.     Secondly, the two countries should utilize the complementarity of their economies to deepen cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, energy, resources and finance to achieve common development. The two sides should further optimize trade structure, expand the scale of bilateral trade, work together to build major energy and resources projects and non-resources projects, and accelerate infrastructure construction at border areas.     Thirdly, the two countries should promote cultural exchanges and cooperation. China is ready to deepen cooperation with Kazakhstan in culture, education, health, tourism and sports. He said the two countries should encourage non-governmental organizations, media and youth organizations to expand contact and enhance friendship.     Fourthly, the two countries should deepen security cooperation and join hands to tackle various challenges. He said China will continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Kazakhstan within such multilateral frameworks as the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia. He said the two countries should join effort to strike trans-border organized crimes and the evil forces of separatism, terrorism and extremism so as to safeguard peace, stability and security of the two countries and the whole region.     Nazarbayev fully agreed with Hu's suggestion, saying under the current situation, Kazakhstan is ready to strengthen its strategic partnership with China. He expressed the willingness to expand bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, transport, agriculture, finance and telecommunications.     He said the two countries should continue to step up cooperation in multilateral arena, especially within the frameworks of the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.     He said the two countries will work together to fight against the three evil forces of separatism, terrorism and extremism to maintain peace and stability in the region and the world over.     Nazarbayev reiterated that Kazakhstan supports China's stance on the issues of Taiwan and Tibet. It supports China to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity.     Before the talks, President Hu hold a welcome ceremony for President Nazarbayev at the Great Hall of the People.

NEW YORK, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong gave a speech at the prestigious Yale University on Wednesday, calling for the strengthening of bilateral exchanges and cooperation in the field of humanities. Liu said that to build positive and comprehensive Sino-U.S. relations in the 21st century, the two countries need to deepen and expand exchanges and cooperation in humanities.     "Humanities exchange is a bridge of friendship, understanding and trust between nations and peoples, which comprises an important part of Sino-U.S. relations along with economic and trade cooperation," she said. Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong (L) receives the Howland Medal from the President of Yale University Richard Levin at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, the United States, April 15, 2009. Liu Yandong gave a speech at the prestigious Yale University on Wednesday, calling for the strengthening of bilateral exchanges and cooperation in the field of humanities    Strengthening humanities exchanges, promoting consensus and understanding will help different cultures to learn from each other and develop, and earn benefits for the countries and peoples, Liu said.     She said China and the U.S. should attach great importance to and enhance exchanges and cooperation in humanities from a strategic and long-term perspective, explore new ways, and enrich new content into the field.     Liu offered China's willingness to promote dialogue and exchanges with the U.S., enhance mutual trust and cooperation, and jointly push the bilateral relations to further development in the new era.     Liu arrived in New York on Saturday, at the start of her official visit to the United States.

BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Another Chinese delegation of businesses and industry leaders, led by the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), left for four European countries Saturday for investment and economic cooperation, the MOC said.     The business delegation, following purchases totaled more than 10 billion U.S. dollars in Europe by a Chinese procurement delegation in late February, are heading for the same destinations of Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Britain.     The new delegation will explore investment opportunities on areas of automobile, machinery, textile, food, electronics and technologies relating to energy saving and environment protection.     An MOC official said "the move would further strengthen cooperation between Chin and Europe and create a win-win result in tackling the global economic downturn."     The delegation are composed of more than 20 top Chinese companies, as well as several national trade associations and government officials.

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BOAO, Hainan, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2009 concluded Sunday in the scenic Boao town in south China's island province of Hainan.     During the three-day event, more than 1,600 political leaders, business people and academic scholars exchanged ideas on the role Asian countries, especially emerging economies, can play to cope with the spreading global financial crisis.     Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivered a keynote speech, "Strengthen confidence and deepen cooperation for win-win progress", at the opening plenary meeting.     He said that the conference, with "Asia: Managing Beyond Crisis" as its theme, is a highly important one. It will contribute to the efforts to build consensus, strengthen confidence, deepen cooperation and overcome the crisis.     Wen introduced the steps China has taken to cope with the severe impact of the global financial crisis, saying the country's package plan is already "paying off", and positive changes have taken place in the economy.     China has decided to set up a 10-billion-U.S.-dollar "China-ASEAN Fund on Investment Cooperation" to support infrastructure development in the region, Wen announced.     The BFA annual conference was the eighth of its kind.     BFA was established in 2001 as a platform for high-level interaction between political and business leaders from Asia and around the world. It is aimed at promoting the development goals of Asian countries through greater regional economic integration.

BEIJING, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Different levels of governments should collect strength to combat drought, which has crippled China's agriculture, said Vice Premier Hui Liangyu Tuesday.     He urged efforts to give drought-relief work top priority.     Hui said the people should build up their confidence and make every effort to overcome difficulties despite severe challenges.     He also asked local governments to strengthen management, adopt effective measures and enhance agricultural technology services sothat farmers could get timely help and guidance.     Financial and material support should be ensured, he added.     Lack of rainfall has led to severe drought in northern China, leaving more than 140 million mu (9.3 million hectares) wheat affected, said the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) head on Tuesday.     As of Monday, 141 million mu wheat in six major grain production provinces, including Henan, Anhui, Shandong, Shanxi, Gansu and Shaanxi, were hit by drought, MOA minister Sun Zhengcai said in an anti-drought video conference.     About 145 million mu crops have been affected by the drought nationwide, or 40 million mu more than the same period last winter, according to the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.     The figure indicated that almost 43 percent of the country's wheat was affected.     Sun said little rain fall since last October was the main reason for the prolonged drought in most of the northern areas, and frequent cold snaps this winter made the situation worse.     According to Monday's weather report by China Meteorological Administration, severe drought in north China was expected to continue as no rain has been forecasted for the next ten days.     The MOA warned that more wheat fields could perish if drought continues to linger.     To cope with the problem, the MOA asked agricultural departments of every level to collect all of their strength to channel water, enhance irrigation and fertilization.     MOA has sent 12 working teams of experts to the drought-hit provinces, to instruct farmers on drought relief work. The Ministry of Water Resources also said it would enhance supervision and launch emergency plan when necessary.     In Anhui Province, where drought has affected about 1.74 million hectares of area and caused an economic loss of 1.6 billion yuan (234 million U.S. dollars), the provincial government allocated 10 million yuan of reserve funds for drought relief and seedling protection, 15 million yuan of special subsidies for anti-drought equipment and another 300 million yuan for farmers to buy relief materials. roll of irrigating plastic pipe is seen on an arid wheat field in Shuanglong Village, Lixin County of east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 22, 2009    Agricultural technicians have been sent to instruct farmers on drought relief work. The provincial government also plans to carryout artificial precipitation when weather permits.     As of Monday, The Ministry of Finance has allocated 100 million yuan (14.6 million U.S. dollars) in emergency funding nationwide to help farmers combat weather difficulties.

BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday sent a message of condolences to his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano over the heavy loss of life and property in a deadly earthquake that struck central Italy.     In the message, Hu expressed condolences to the victims and their families and those affected by the earthquake on behalf of the Chinese government and people as well as in his own name.     Hu believed that, under the leadership of Napolitano and the Italian government, the Italian people will overcome the difficulties arising from the quake and restore the normal life and work in the quake-affected areas at an early date.     A powerful earthquake hit central Italy early Monday, killing 207 people, injuring about 1,500 and leaving around 70,000 homeless, said the latest reports.     China's top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao also sent messages of condolences to Italian Senate Speaker Renato Schifani, Chamber of Deputies Speaker Gianfranco Fini and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, respectively.

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BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Friday that the "good situation" in today's Tibet was "hard-earned and should be highly cherished."     Hu said during his visit to an exhibition marking the 50th Anniversary of Democratic Reform in Tibet, at the Cultural Palace of Nationalities in Beijing, that the reform 50 years ago was "the most extensive, profound and progressive social transformation in the history of Tibet."     All the nine members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee visited the exhibition, including top legislator Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao, and top political advisor Jia Qinglin. Chinese President Hu Jintao, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits an exhibition marking the 50th Anniversary of Democratic Reform in Tibet, at the Cultural Palace of Nationalities in Beijing, capital of China, on March 27, 2009    The exhibition, opened on Feb. 24, 2009, showcases archives, cultural relics, photos, videos, and restored landscapes that have recorded the great changes Tibet has gone through since 1959, when serfdom was abolished.     The exhibits show that Tibet has been a part of China since the Yuan Dynasty (1271 to 1368 A.D.). Also exhibited are scenes of surfs being exploited by their owners in the old times and how they were liberated 50 years ago.     The exhibition puts on videos recording the March 14th Riot in Lhasa last year and the major projects the Chinese government has sponsored in the plateau, such as the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and the Tibet Gymnasium. It also includes photos about Tibetan people's lives today.     When visiting the exhibition, Hu stressed that, only by staying in the big family of the motherland under the leadership of the CPC, can the economy and society of Tibet develop by leaps and bounds, and the people of Tibet be the owner of the country together with other Chinese ethnics.     Tibet should speed up economic development and further improve the living standards of people living there, especially the peasants and herdsmen, Hu said.     Hu also said that Tibet should move from being "basically stable" to "peaceful and stable in the long run."     The exhibition, co-organized by the State Council Information Office, the State Ethnic Affairs Commission and the Tibet Autonomous Region, has attracted about 137,000 visitors since its opening. 

BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- After a mere four-and-a-half hours, world leaders at the G20 summit in London decided to devote about 1 trillion U.S. dollars to supporting world economic growth and trade, an outcome that surprised many analysts with its scale.     But in that scant time, China had a chance to showcase its growing importance in the world economy. China said it would contribute 40 billion U.S. dollars to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) increased financing capacity. That's only a small portion of the total, but it could take China's IMF voting rights from to 3.997 percent from 3.807 percent.     China's new voting share would still far behind that of the United States, which is first with about 17 percent.     However, since many countries' voting shares in the IMF are well under 1 percent, any incremental change gives a member just a little extra say in the workings of the multilateral organization. And so the potential change is a small step toward China's goal of having more influence on how the IMF, and the world financial system, operates.     HIGHER FINANCIAL STATUS     Economists said China's proposed contribution of 40 billion U.S. dollars was in line with its current development level and would mean a more influential voice for Beijing in international financial institutions and in shaping the world economic order.     "China's promise of extra funding was a contribution to the world economy and showcased the country's clout," said Zhao Jinping, an economist with the State Council's (cabinet's) Development Research Center.     Tang Min, deputy secretary general of the China Development Research Foundation, said the country's voting rights and quota of contributions to multilateral bodies still fell short of its status as the world's third-biggest economy.     He said China would further step up its contributions, and influence, as its economic power grew and reforms of the international financial system went forward.     Zhao said it was part of a long-term trend for developing countries like China to have more influence in decision-making at international financial institutions, noting that the "obsolete mechanism and structure of world financial organizations" failed to reflect an evolving world economy.     British special G20 envoy Mark Malloch-Brown was quoted in the China Securities Journal on Thursday as saying that an overhaul of the world financial system should start with international financial institutions and reforming the IMF meant China's voice must be bigger.     The G20 leaders' statement was a "positive signal" in that it gave a timetable for reforming the IMF and the World Bank, said Zhang Bin, an expert with the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a government think tank.     Zhao said China's obligations to international financial institutions should reflect not just the country's size but also the fact that China is still a developing country.     He urged China to expand its influence by actively joining multilateral or regional dialogues and offering more proposals on international issues.     "It should be a step-by-step process for China to shoulder more responsibility. It can't be accomplished in just one move," said Zhao.     LONG ROAD TO REFORM     Be it "a turning point," as U.S. President Barack Obama stated, or "a new world order," as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown claimed, the G20 summit was a major step in reshaping the global financial system, but there was still far to go, Chinese economists said.     "China should seek to expand its IMF quota and voting rights further after the summit. Although the statement give a timetable for reform, it remains unclear whether the goal can be achieved because that would affect the interests of the United States and the European Union," said Mei Xinyu, a researcher at China's Ministry of Commerce.     The G20 statement reads in part: "We commit to implementing the package of IMF quota and voice reforms agreed in April 2009 and call on the IMF to complete the next review of quotas by January 2011."     "On the one hand, China could count on the IMF restructuring, and on the other hand, it may start again somewhere else. For instance, it can push forward the establishment of the 120-billion-U.S.-dollar reserve pool agreed by several East Asian countries," Mei said.     Leaders of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus China, Japan and the Republic of Korea agreed last month to speed up the creation of a foreign-exchange reserve pool of 120 billion U.S. dollars to address liquidity shortages.     Mei described the pool as an "Asian Monetary Fund," saying it could partly replace the IMF in Asia and help increase use of the Chinese currency in international trade.     Another government economist, Wang Xiaoguang, said the agreement served as a foundation for more concrete policies to tackle the global downturn and this would be good for global stability and China's own economic recovery.     Wang added that it was unrealistic to change the global financial order immediately, because it would cause conflicts among major economies.     "They will rework the current system rather than introduce a new one," he said.     Zhuang Jian, an economist at the Asian Development Bank, said the biggest challenge was how to implement those commitments. China should closely monitor the implementation of the agreement and decide whether its short-term objectives could be realized.     "China's appeals will be discussed after the summit," he said, referring to financial market reform and the position of emerging countries in the international financial system.     "I think the country will have a bigger say in the global financial system. But the G20 summit is just a forum, and if the global economy worsens, the agreement might end up as nothing more than words," he said.

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ISLAMABAD, April 18 (Xinhua) -- A 100-member-strong youth delegation of Pakistan is to leave for China on Sunday on a week-long visit as a program of boosting exchanges between the two friendly countries.     "The youths from all walks of life of Pakistan will have the chance to look at China and know more about China," said Charge d'Affairs Yao Jing of Chinese Embassy in Pakistan told youth delegation at a reception.     Chinese President Hu Jintao invited 500 young people from Pakistan to visit China within five years when he paid a state visit to Pakistan in November, 2006. The program was launched in 2007.     The program is aimed at "increasing mutual understanding" between the two countries and peoples, said Yao.     Ullah Saif Shervani, secretary of Pakistani Ministry of Youth Affairs, expressed the hope that the delegation members could take the opportunity to learn from "friendly China" and help enhance "time-tested friendship" between the two countries.     "I appreciate the Chinese government for the chance to visit," said Adil Taj, an university student in Islamabad. "We will work hard to make our own contribution to Pakistan-China friendship."     The youth delegation is scheduled to visit Beijing, Urumqi and Lanzhou from April 19 to 27.

BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The following is the full text of the Report on the Work of the Government delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao at the Second Session of the Eleventh National People's Congress on March 5, 2009 and adopted on March 13, 2009:          REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT     Delivered at the Second Session of the Eleventh National People's Congress on March 5, 2009          Wen Jiabao     Premier of the State Council     Fellow Deputies,     On behalf of the State Council, I now present to you my report on the work of the government for your deliberation and approval. I also solicit comments and suggestions on the report from the members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).          I. Review of the Work in 2008     The year 2008 was truly eventful. Our country's economic and social development withstood severe challenges and tests that were rarely seen before. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the people of all our ethnic groups faced difficulties squarely, worked with courage and determination, surmounted all difficulties and obstacles, and made new achievements in reform, opening up and socialist modernization.     - The national economy continued to maintain steady and rapid growth. GDP topped 30 trillion yuan, an increase of 9% over the previous year. Overall price rises were held in check. Government revenue was 6.13 trillion yuan, an increase of 19.5%. Grain output rose for the fifth consecutive year and totaled 528.5 million tons, a record high.     - Reform and opening up were further deepened. New breakthroughs were made in reforms in key areas and crucial links, such as the fiscal, taxation, financial and pricing systems and administration. Imports and exports totaled US$ 2.56 trillion, an increase of 17.8%. Paid-in foreign direct investment reached .4billion.     - Development of social programs was accelerated, and the living standards of the people continued to rise. A total of 11.13million more urban residents entered the workforce. Urban per capita annual disposable income reached 15,781 yuan, an increase of 8.4% in real terms, and rural per capita net income reached 4,761 yuan, up by 8% in real terms.     - Great victories were won in the fight against massive natural disasters. The Beijing Olympics and Paralympics were held successfully, and the Shenzhou VII manned space mission was a complete success.     These achievements signify that we have taken new and solid steps along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. They have greatly fortified the courage and strength of the people of all our ethnic groups to surmount difficulties and will definitely encourage us to bravely forge ahead on the new historical course.     Last year, we accomplished the following important work:     1. Making timely and resolute adjustments to macroeconomic policies and doing everything possible to maintain steady and rapid economic development     We maintained the right direction, focus, intensity and pace of macro control, and adopted a series of policies and measures to promote steady and rapid economic development. In a complex and volatile situation, we actively responded to the severe impact of the global financial crisis and worked hard to make our macro control more proactive, targeted and effective. In the middle of the year, when energy and grain prices on the international market were high, world economic growth slowed, and exports from and economic growth in China's coastal regions began to decline, we promptly shifted the priority of macro control to maintaining steady and rapid economic development and controlling price hikes, and adopted relevant fiscal, taxation and financial measures. In September, the international economic situation started to deteriorate sharply and its negative impact became increasingly felt in China. We again resolutely shifted the focus of macro control to preventing economic growth from slowing down too quickly. We implemented a proactive fiscal policy and a moderately easy monetary policy. We raised export rebate rates three times, lowered the benchmark interest rates on savings and loans for financial institutions on five occasions, reduced required reserve ratios four times, suspended the individual income tax on interest earnings from savings, reduced securities transaction stamp tax rates, cut taxes and fees on housing transactions, and increased credit support to small and medium-sized enterprises. In accordance with the requirement that we act fast, be forceful, take targeted measures and stress implementation, we promptly introduced ten measures to further boost domestic demand and promote economic growth, and implemented them without delay. We adopted a succession of policies and measures to encourage financial institutions to support economic development, promote sound development of the textile and other light industries and the real estate market, expand consumption by improving distribution, maintain steady growth in foreign trade, and keep the employment situation stable. At the same time, we stepped up efforts to formulate plans for restructuring and revitalizing key industries. Together, these measures have played a crucial role in alleviating serious problems affecting economic performance, enhancing confidence, stabilizing expectations and maintaining steady and rapid economic development.     We continued to strengthen our work related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers without any letup. Central government budgetary spending on agriculture, rural areas and farmers was 595.5 billion yuan for the whole year, a year-on-year increase of 163.7 billion yuan or 37.9%. This included 103 billion yuan, twice the figure for the previous year, in direct subsidies to grain producers, general subsidies for agricultural production supplies, and subsidies for superior crop varieties and the purchase of agricultural machinery and tools. We significantly raised minimum grain purchase prices three times, with the total increase exceeding 20%. We implemented a temporary policy for purchasing and stockpiling major agricultural products. We intensified the protection of arable land and the construction of agricultural water conservancy projects, and increased overall agricultural production capacity. We supported the production of hogs, oilseeds and dairy products. These policies and measures played an important role in maintaining and stimulating the enthusiasm of farmers, ensuring the supply of major farm products and increasing rural incomes, and provided strong support for maintaining overall stability in economic and social development.     We unswervingly promoted independent innovation and economic restructuring. We launched 16 major national science and technology projects, and established a number of new national engineering centers, key laboratories and enterprise technology centers in such fields as information technology, biotechnology and environmental protection. We successfully developed a number of key technologies and major equipment in the areas of regional aircraft, automobiles powered by new energy sources and high-speed railways. The central government invested 116.3 billion yuan in science and technology, an increase of 16.4%. Significant steps were taken in reorganization of the telecommunications and civil aviation industries. We continued to eliminate backward production facilities. Last year, we shut down small thermal power plants with a total capacity of 16.69 million kilowatts and closed 1,054 small coalmines. Investment in infrastructure and basic industries was increased, and a number of major projects in energy, transportation and water conservancy were completed or launched. Steady progress was made in implementing the master strategy for regional development, and economic development in different regions became better coordinated.     We steadfastly promoted energy conservation, emissions reduction and ecological and environmental protection. The central government allocated 42.3 billion yuan to support development of ten key energy conservation projects and environmental protection facilities. The daily sewage treatment capacity rose by an additional 11.49 million tons in urban areas, and desulfurization equipment was installed in coal-fired power plants with a total capacity of 97.12 million kilowatts. Energy consumption per unit of GDP fell by 4.59% from the previous year; chemical oxygen demand fell by 4.42%; and sulfur dioxide emissions fell by 5.95%. For the past three years combined, total energy consumption per unit of GDP dropped by 10.08%; chemical oxygen demand dropped by 6.61%; and sulfur dioxide emissions dropped by 8.95%. We built on the achievements in returning farmland to forests and restoring livestock pastures to grasslands, and carried out ecological conservation projects such as protecting virgin forests and developing the Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve in Qinghai Province. We implemented the plan to prevent and control water pollution in major river valleys and regions and issued the white paper China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change.     2. Balancing economic and social development and strengthening all aspects of social development with the focus on improving people's lives     Efforts were intensified to increase employment and improve the social safety net. We improved our policy to stimulate and expand employment by encouraging business startups, and enforced the minimum wage system. The coverage of all social security schemes continued to expand, with 17.53 million more urban workers subscribing to basic old-age insurance, 20.28 million more subscribing to basic medical insurance, and the unemployment, workers' compensation and maternity insurance steadily expanding to cover more workers. Pensions of enterprise retirees rose by 110 yuan per month per person. We launched trials to reform the basic old-age insurance system for employees of government-affiliated institutions. We actively explored ways to establish a new system of old-age insurance for rural residents and made steady progress in making social security available to rural migrant workers in urban areas and farmers whose land has been expropriated. We comprehensively improved the system of cost of living allowances for both urban and rural residents, and provided allowances to 66.19 million residents. We raised living allowances for low-income groups and university students in a timely fashion. Preferential treatment enjoyed by key entitled groups was increased substantially. We intensified efforts to develop low-income housing and renovate shantytowns, thus alleviating some of the housing difficulties of the low-income population. An additional of more than 48 million rural people gained access to safe drinking water.     Further progress was made in promoting fair education for all. Free compulsory education became available to all students, urban or rural, throughout the country, and all rural students receiving compulsory education obtained free textbooks. The standards for repairing and renovating school buildings in the central and western regions were raised, and the government allocated 3.25 billion yuan to provide heating to rural primary and secondary schools in the north. Development of vocational education was accelerated. The national financial aid system for students was further improved. The central government spent 22.3 billion yuan and local governments increased funding as well to assist more than 20 million students. Grants of 1,500 yuan per student per annum were given to secondary vocational school students from rural areas or needy urban families, benefiting 90% of the current student population in these vocational schools.     Steady progress was made in reform and development of the pharmaceutical and health care system. A total of 814 million people, accounting for 91.5% of the rural population, now benefit from the new type of rural cooperative medical care system. The number of selected cities participating in trials of the basic medical insurance system for urban residents increased from 88 to 317, and the number of participating individuals increased by 73.59 million to 117 million. Significant progress was made in developing a system of community-based health services in urban areas. We continued to expand the coverage of the reward and assistance system for rural families complying with family planning regulations, and implemented the "lower birthrate equals faster prosperity" program in more places in the countryside.     We accelerated the development of culture and sports. Public cultural infrastructure facilities were improved, the cultural industries developed rapidly, and reform of the cultural management system was constantly deepened. We mobilized all resources and hosted a distinctive and high-level Beijing Olympicsand Paralympics, thus fulfilling the century-old dream of the Chinese nation, and Chinese athletes competed hard and brave and scored excellent achievements in the Games. This greatly aroused the patriotism of all our people and strengthened the cohesiveness of our nation.     We continued to strengthen democracy and the legal system. The system of local-level democracy was further improved. Significant progress was made in enhancing law-based government. Last year, the State Council submitted eight bills, including a draft of the Social Insurance Law and draft amendments to the Law on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters, to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for deliberation. It also formulated or revised 30 administrative laws and regulations. The Regulations on Making Government Information Public was fully implemented. The public security system for crime prevention and control was strengthened. We battled against secessionist and terrorist activities, protected China's national security and maintained social stability. Our work related to ethnic minority, religious and overseas Chinese affairs further improved.     3. Vigorously advancing reform and opening up and injecting fresh vitality and impetus into economic and social development     Institutional restructuring of the State Council was basically completed and that of local governments is progressing steadily. Comprehensive rural reforms continued to deepen, and reform of collective forest rights was instituted throughout the country. SOE reform was deepened. The transformation of the Agricultural Bank of China and China Development Bank into joint stock companies proceeded smoothly. The new Law on Corporate Income Tax went into effect, and real estate taxes were unified for domestic and overseas-funded enterprises and Chinese and foreign individuals. After years of deliberation, reform in pricing, taxes and fees for refined petroleum products was smoothly introduced. Aplan for reform of the pharmaceutical and health care system was devised and referred to the general public for comments. These innovations in systems and mechanisms have laid a solid foundation for our long-term development.     The country opened wider to the outside world. We vigorously implemented the strategy of competing on quality and diversifying export markets. We increased efforts to establish innovation bases to invigorate trade through science and technology and bases for providing services outsourced from other countries. We supported the export of products with Chinese trademarks and intellectual property rights. We improved the policy system for the processing trade. We steadily opened service industries wider to the outside world and provided more guidance to orient foreign investment in China. We integrated existing funds and set up new ones designed to promote external economic and technological cooperation. We promulgated regulations on managing overseas contracted projects and rectified the system of administration of cooperative overseas labor services. We actively promoted energy and resources cooperation overseas, further expanded our assistances to other countries, and the pace of enterprises going global was accelerated. Further progress was made in the development of free trade zones, and in our economic dialogues with major trading partners and mutually beneficial cooperation with other developing countries.          Fellow Deputies,     A massive earthquake that shocked the world struck Wenchuan on May 12. Under the firm leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, people of all ethnic groups in China, especially in the quake zone, worked as one and fought in unison against the earthquake disaster. The people's army rushed to the frontlines without thinking of their own safety. We launched an earthquake rescue and relief operation that accomplished its work faster, mobilized more personnel and committed more resources than ever before in China's history. We steadfastly gave top priority to saving people's lives. We pulled 84,000 survivors out of the rubble. We promptly repaired damaged infrastructure, and resolutely unblocked the Mount Tangjia quake lake to avert potential secondary disasters. We did our utmost to prevent an epidemic from occurring and ensured that there was no major outbreak of diseases after the deadly earthquake. The central government allocated 38.4 billion yuan for quake relief and 74 billion yuan for post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction. We promptly introduced a host of policies and measures to support the quake zone. We energetically organized one-to-one assistance to designated areas affected by the earthquake. People from all sectors of society in China made generous donations, both in cash and in kind; our compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan as well as overseas Chinese contributed generously to the disaster relief campaign; and the international community provided us with earthquake rescue and relief assistance. All this combined to forma boundless source of strength for the Chinese people to overcome the disaster. This hard struggle against the earthquake produced uncountable touching and brave exploits and fully demonstrated the great indomitable and unyielding spirit of the Chinese people, thus writing a heroic chapter in the history of the nation.     None of the achievements we made last year came easily. They were the result of overall planning and correct leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary, as well as the concerted and strenuous efforts of the whole Party, the entire army and the people of all our ethnic groups. On behalf of the State Council, I hereby express our sincere gratitude to the people of all our ethnic groups and to the democratic parties, mass organizations and people from all sectors of society. I also express our sincere thanks to compatriots in the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions and Taiwan and to overseas Chinese, as well as to foreign governments, international organizations and friends in other countries that take an interest in and support China's modernization drive.     While acknowledging our achievements, we must be clearly aware that we face unprecedented difficulties and challenges.     First, the global financial crisis continues to spread and get worse. Demand continues to shrink on international markets; the trend toward global deflation is obvious; and trade protectionism is resurging. The external economic environment has become more serious, and uncertainties have increased significantly.     Second, continuous drop in economic growth rate due to the impact of the global financial crisis has become a major problem affecting the overall situation. This has resulted in excess production capacity in some industries, caused some enterprises to experience operating difficulties and exerted severe pressure on employment. Factors leading to decline in government revenues and increase in government expenditures have increased. It has become more difficult to maintain steady agricultural development and keep rural incomes growing.     Third, institutional and structural problems that have long hindered healthy economic development still remain, and some of them are still prominent. Consumption demand is insufficient, and development of tertiary industries is sluggish. Our capacity for independent innovation is weak. Consumption of energy and other resources is high. Environmental pollution is serious. Disparities in development between urban and rural areas and between regions are widening.     Fourth, some problems affecting the vital interests of the people have not been fundamentally alleviated. There are still many problems demanding urgent solution in the areas of social security, education, health care, income distribution and public security.     Fifth, order in the market is not well standardized; market oversight and law enforcement are not fully in place, and the social credit rating system is still in need of improvement. A number of serious and major incidents concerning food and workplace safety have occurred, which have inflicted serious loss of life and property on the people and taught us a sobering lesson.     We need to thoroughly appreciate how serious and complex the international and domestic economic situations are, be more mindful of potential perils and crises, fully exploit favorable conditions and actively respond to all challenges so that we can successfully accomplish all our tasks and prove worthy of the great expectations and trust conferred on us by the people.