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CARTAGENA, Colombia, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping Sunday held talks with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in the northern Colombian port city of Cartagena.     Xi first transferred the sincere regards of Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to Uribe, and expressed his thanks to Uribe for specially coming here to meet the Chinese delegation. Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping meets with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in Cartagena, a port city of Colombia, on Feb. 15, 2009Xi said the two peoples have enjoyed long friendship, which is deep-rooted in their hearts, despite the long distance between the two countries.     He mentioned Uribe's visit to the Chinese embassy last May to mourn the victims in the devastating quake in Sichuan province in southwestern China, and the Colombian government's statement to express its condolences to the victims.     He also said that after Colombia was struck by severe floods not long ago, the Chinese government provided aid to the South American country. Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping meets with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in Cartagena, a port city of Colombia, on Feb. 15, 2009These moves reflected the deep friendship between the two peoples, said Xi, who arrived in Colombia Saturday for a three-day visit.     He said bilateral relations have made great headway in recent years under the care of the two countries' leaders.     In November, President Hu reached consensus with Uribe on deepening bilateral sincere and friendly political ties, strengthening mutually beneficial, win-win and practical cooperation, increasing civil exchanges, and boosting multilateral coordination and cooperation, Xi said.     The consensus is the principle and direction for the development of bilateral ties in the following period of time, he added.     Xi said next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, and bilateral ties will enter a mature period that enjoys full-scale development.     He said both sides should seize this opportunity to fully implement the consensus reached by the two countries' leaders and focus on the work in the following four fields:     -- to increase mutual trust in political affairs, deepen their sincere friendship, and care each other's concerns;     -- to make use of the advantage of mutual complementarity, expand bilateral trade, and promote trade balance;     -- to broaden cooperation fields, actively explore new fields and ways for mutually beneficial cooperation, and meet the new demands of common development;     -- to encourage investment and cooperation in various forms and promote the level of bilateral practical cooperation, with the Chinese government encouraging and supporting Chinese companies to carry out trade, economic and investment activities in Colombia.     For his part, Uribe asked Xi to convey the Colombian people's greetings to President Hu and the Chinese people.     Colombia attaches great importance to its relations with China and has always cherished friendly feelings for China, he said, adding that the Colombian government and people have very much looked forward to Xi's visit and are satisfied with the growth of bilateral relations in recent years.     Uribe recalled last year's signing of the bilateral investment protection agreement which he and President Hu had witnessed, saying it is a notable sign of the development of cooperation between Colombia and China.     Uribe expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for its assistance to Colombia and voiced appreciation for China's accession into the Inter-American Development Bank, which he believes will help strengthen Colombia-China relations.     Chinese enterprises are warmly welcomed to invest in and trade with Colombia, which has rich natural resources and a steadily-growing economy, he said.     Noting that Colombia is impressed by the efforts China made to cope with the global financial crisis and stimulate economic growth, Uribe expressed his belief that China is an engine of the world economy and its development and growth pace are key to a quick recovery of the world economy from the financial crisis.     Colombia stands ready to broaden its cooperation with China and push their relationship to new heights, he said.     Colombia is the third leg of Xi's six-nation tour. He has already visited Mexico and Jamaica and will also visit Venezuela, Brazil and Malta.

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China and Venezuela agreed here Wednesday to step up cooperation in fields such as energy, agriculture, and high technology and take joint actions in the face of the global financial crisis.     The agreement was reached in a meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and his visiting Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the two exchanged in-depth views on bilateral relations and other issues of common concern and reached an important consensus.     Hu highlighted the robust growth of bilateral relations during the meeting, saying that China was satisfied with the positive outcomes from bilateral economic and technological cooperation, progress made on some key projects and close coordination on international and regional issues. Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on April 8, 2009    Hu also suggested the two nations should work closer and boost the various pragmatic cooperation, which would not only help resolve the impact from the international financial crisis, but also be conducive to laying a solid foundation for the long-term development of Sino-Venezuelan relations.     China highly values its ties with Venezuela and will join hands with the Venezuelan side to make efforts to push forward the bilateral strategic partnership to a higher level, Hu said.     Echoing Hu's views on bilateral relations, Chavez also applauded the progress made on bilateral cooperation in energy, agriculture, industry and technology.     He especially mentioned the successful launch and delivery of Venezuela's first telecommunication satellite thanks to cooperation with China.     Chavez noted that the world order is undergoing a profound change and China already played a significant and positive role in an effort to address the challenges posed by the international economic turmoil.     Venezuela is willing to cement its cooperation with China in such a new international context, the Venezuelan president added.     As Hu's guest, Chavez arrived in Beijing on Tuesday night for a three-day working visit.     He will also meet Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping during the visit, which is his sixth to China.

BEIJING, Feb. 12 -- A sharp fall in imports and exports in January, which included a weeklong Spring Festival holiday, has both puzzled and alarmed economists.     General Administration of Customs figures released yesterday showed exports plummeted 17.5 percent year-on-year, much sharper than the 2.8 percent fall in December.     Imports fell even more dramatically, to 43.1 percent year-on-year.     The combined foreign trade in January fell 29 percent year-on-year. Such a major decline in monthly foreign trade is rare in the 30 years of reform and opening up. General Administration of Customs figures released yesterday showed exports plummeted 17.5 percent year-on-year, much sharper than the 2.8 percent fall in December    Because of the global economic downturn, foreign trade is likely to fall for several more months, the economists said. Su Chang, a macro-economic analyst with China Economic Business Monitor, said it could decline by 10 percent in the first quarter of this year.     "It is possible that China's yearly record will be negative as well." But, he said the decline in imports would be largely because of the fall in prices of industrial materials.     "Prices of primary goods - China's main imports - are at a low points now, while they were at historic highs just a year ago," he said.     Last month, however, was an exception because it had one full week of holiday from January 26. The Chinese Lunar New Year is the most important festival for Chinese but usually it falls in February.     So this year, January had five fewer working days than those in many of the previous years. If that is considered, the Customs said, exports actually rose 6.8 percent year-on-year in January. And compared with December, they increased 4.6 percent.     The worldwide deflationary cycle was another problem, the economists said. The sharp drop in imports was caused both because of a fall in global prices (most noticeably of crude oil and farm products) and a drop in demand for electronic components, which reflected the shrinking of the country's manufacturing industry.     Ting Lu, economist with Merrill Lynch in Hong Kong, said there was no good method to adjust for the Chinese New Year effects. "Our first suggestion: ignore them," Lu said in note to clients in the monthly trade figures.     When compared with neighboring economies, experts said, China's record is not the worst. Jing Ulrich, analyst with JP Morgan, has written in a report that while the recent export slowdown has been alarming, it has not been as severe in China as in some neighboring economies that rely more heavily on the hi-tech sector.     While Jing Wang, chief economist of Morgan Stanley, said China's export structure is more diverse, and as a result less volatile, in the region.

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BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- China will foster a number of globally competitive logistics companies by 2011, said a stimulus plan of the country's logistics industry released on the government website on Friday.     All departments and local governments are urged to make efforts to achieve the goal, according to the plan, issued by the State Council, or the cabinet.     It said local authorities should help logistics companies solve problems in their development, realize a 10-percent annual growth in their output and lower the proportion of logistics expenses in the country's GDP.     The cabinet said in a notice that the country's logistics industry was affected by the unfolding global financial crisis. The stimulus plan was designated not only to promote its industrial upgrade but support development of other industries, expand consumption and increase employment.     As a composite service industry, logistics, comprising transport, storage, information industries and freight agencies, is an important part of national economy, said the plan.     The cabinet has rolled out support plans for ten industries including steel, auto and textile, targeting industrial growth, as well as restructuring and upgrading.

BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao has urged all officials receiving public grievances to learn from the hard working style of the late Pan Zuoliang (1965-2008).     Pan had worked as director of the Letters and Calls Bureau of Liaozhong County, Liaoning Province, northeast China, until May 9,2008, when he died of a sudden cerebral hemorrhage on duty. Pan Zuoliang (1965-2008) had worked as director of the Letters and Calls Bureau of Liaozhong County, Liaoning Province, northeast China, until May 9,2008, when he died of a sudden cerebral hemorrhage on duty."Build the letters and calls departments into a sector that is first-class regarding their work and satisfactory to the people," said Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, in an instruction to a meeting of officials at the Great Hall of the People, in central Beijing, Friday.     Prior to the gathering, Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, called Pan a model for grassroots Party members and officials. "Pan had always lived among the people and helped the Party and the people to get over difficulties," he said. People send Pan's coffin off spontaneously. Pan Zuoliang (1965-2008) had worked as director of the Letters and Calls Bureau of Liaozhong County, Liaoning Province, northeast China, until May 9,2008, when he died of a sudden cerebral hemorrhage on duty.Zhou urged all officials to "prevent and resolve inharmonious, unstable factors" in the country.     After his death, Pan was made an "Excellent Letters and Calls Official Who Help the Party and the People Resolve Difficulties" and a "National-level Excellent Letters and Calls Official" by the Liaoning Provincial Communist Party Committee and the State Bureau for Letters and Calls.

BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang told former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin Tuesday that efforts should be made to ensure the "healthy" and "stable" development of Sino-French relations.     Li recalled the experiences on the bilateral ties since China and French forged diplomatic relations 45 years ago, noting that sound political relations and trust served the fundamental interests of the two peoples and were vital to boost cooperation.     Li also briefed Raffarin on China's economic situation, adding the measures China adopted to curb the global financial crisis "have been taking some effect."     "We are confident of maintaining China's stable and rapid economic growth and highly value foreign trade cooperation with countries such as France," Li said.     Raffarin, who is in Beijing to attend a Sino-French economic seminar, said expressed his commitment to continuing to promote the bilateral strategic partnership. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin in Beijing, capital of China, on April 7, 2009    China and France issued a press communiqué on Wednesday, just hours before the presidents Hu Jintao and Nicolas Sarkozy met in London ahead of a Group of 20 summit on the global financial crisis.     The communiqué said the two sides "attach great importance to China-France relations" and reiterated their adherence to the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs.     In the communiqué, France pledged not to support "Tibet independence" in any form.     Relations between China and France deteriorated in December when Sarkozy met with the ** Lama in Poland.

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BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- China's central bank governor has spoken highly of the government's rapid responses to the current global financial crisis, featuring decisively adopting a proactive fiscal policy and an adaptively easing monetary policy, and launching a bundle of timely, targeted and temporary policies and measures.     The prompt, decisive and effective policy measures adopted by the Chinese government demonstrates "its superior system advantage when it comes to making vital policy decisions," says Zhou Xiaochuan, president of the People's Bank of China (PBC), in an article entitled "Changing Pro-cyclicality for Financial and Economic Stability."     It is Zhou's third article published on the central bank's official website (WWW.PBC.GOV.CN) this week to discuss the issue of the current global financial crisis. His first and second articles, published on Monday and Tuesday, are entitled "Reform the International Monetary System" and "On Savings Ratio," respectively.     In the third article, the 61-year old central bank governor tries to find out the root causes for the current financial crisis, including but not limited to lessons on monetary policy, financial sector regulations, accounting rules.     The top Chinese banker says he wants to stimulate debate and discussions on some of the pro-cyclical features in the system, possible remedial measures, and how monetary and fiscal authorities can play their professional roles at times of severe market distress.     "Financial crises normally originate in the accumulation of bubbles and their subsequent bursts. Usually, economists pay a lot of attentions to pro-cyclicality on the macro level.     However, on the micro level, there are quite a number of notable pro-cyclical features embedded in the market structure today, which should be addressed as we deal with the current crisis and reform the financial system," he says.     Zhou suggests that in the current market structure, more counter-cyclical mechanisms or negative feedback loops on micro-level should be put in place to sustain a more stable financial system.     In the article, he notes that rating problems and herding phenomenon arise from outsourcing.     The global financial system relies heavily on the external credit ratings for investment decisions and risk management, giving rise to a prominent feature of pro-cyclicality, according to the central bank governor.     "Economic upswings produce euphoria and downturns generate pessimism," he says, "Many market players adopting ratings from the three agencies and using them as the yardstick for operations and internal performance assessments clearly result in a massive "herd behavior" at the institutional level."     Zhou points out that some market players seem to have forgotten that the ratings are no more than indicators of default probabilities based on past experiences but were never meant to be guarantees for the future, he says. "Once problems take place, as we have seen during the current crisis, fingers are pointed to the rating agencies," he says.     He suggests that financial institutions should try to rely more on internal rating in assessing risks.     He calls for giving full play to the professional role of authorities in maintaining overall financial stability and establishing a counter-cyclical mechanism for capital requirement     "To stabilize markets under severe stress, finance ministries and central banks need to act fast and apply extraordinary measures," he says, "Untimely or delayed response falls behind the curve and would make the outcome less than desired even if the response is correct and strong."     In modern Western societies, a prolonged political process for mandates to finance ministries or central banks often miss the best timing for action, Zhou says, adding, "We have observed such cases during the current crisis."     He suggests that governments and legislatures may consider giving pre-authorized mandates to ministries of finance and central banks to use extraordinary means to contain systemic risk under well-defined stress scenarios, in order to allow them to act boldly and expeditiously without having to go through a lengthy or even painful approval process.     "Such systematic pre-authorized mandates would put the specialized expertise of finance ministries and central banks to the best use when markets need it the most," he stresses.     The central bank governor attributes China's current success in easing the impacts of the crisis to the country's financial sector reform and ongoing macroeconomic stimulus measures     In 2003, fully aware of the systemic vulnerabilities of China's banking industry, the Chinese government made a courageous and strategic decision to restructure the four state-owned commercial banks, says Zhou, who took over as the PBC governor in late 2002.     In the article, Zhou gives a look back on the reforms of the country's major banks and security industry.     But he warns, "We should bear in mind that despite the notable achievements in banking reform, the major banks have not gone through a full business cycle and still have much to improve. An economic slowdown will be the ultimate stress test for the robustness of the banks' strengths."     According to the bank governor, irrespective of China's sound financial sector, the Chinese economy, especially the export sector, has felt the impact brought by the slowdown of the global economy.     He praises the Chinese government for its plans to stimulate domestic demand and promote stable and relatively rapid economic growth, including the extra investment of 4 trillion yuan (685 billion U.S. dollars) in over two years, the ten measures to revitalize the industrial sectors, and other bolster measures to increase money supply, promote employment, reform taxes and medical and healthcare system.     "Having taken the above-mentioned measures, China expect to maintain stable economic growth by boosting domestic demand and reducing dependence on external demand, thus serving as a stabilizing force in global economy," Zhou says.     In overall, the macroeconomic measures have produced preliminary result and some leading indicators are pointing to recovery of economic growth, indicating that rapid decline in growth has been curbed, he concludes.

WUHAN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has called for realizing healthy and rapid economic growth through technical innovation and industrial upgrading during a visit to the country's central regions.     More government support should go to high technology industries such as electronic information, software service and bio-medicines, Wen said during a visit to enterprises in Hubei Province from Sunday to Tuesday. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) visits the Wuhan Dongfeng Motor Corporation in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, March 30, 2009. Wen Jiabao, also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, inspected Hubei Province from March 29 to 31.Wen emphasized importance of possessing intellectual property rights and encouraged companies to strengthen research and development and make breakthroughs in core technologies.     The country's future lay in innovation, and all challenges would be conquered if China adhered to innovation in its development, Wen said. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L front) talks with a shopkeeper at a market in Sanfutan Town, Xiantao City in central China's Hubei Province, March 29, 2009.Visiting automobile, shipbuilding and steel companies in Wuhan, the provincial capital, Wen encouraged the manufacturing sector to make full use of government support plans.     "We must have confidence in ourselves and work hard during times of hardship so as to take the country's manufacturing industry to a new level," Wen said. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) visits the Jiang Toon Animation Co., Ltd. at the Wuhan Optical Valley Software Park in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, March 30, 2009The State Council, the Cabinet, has issued a series of support plans for 10 key industries such as automobile, steel, textile and garment sectors since January in a bid to stimulate China's economy, whose year-on-year growth slowed to a seven-year low of 9percent in 2008.     Wen said agricultural production was stable and urged officials to give priority to the rural economy and raise farmer's incomes, as rural development played an important role in guarding against the impact of the global financial crisis. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R front) talks with local residents in Minsan Village, Huchang Town, Xiantao City in central China's Hubei Province, March 29, 2009. Governments at all levels should prevent prices of economic crops dropping by national purchase and price protection, give more agricultural subsidies and enlarge the rural market through policies such as subsidizing rural residents in buying household electric appliances, Wen said.     Wen also urged governments to take measures improve employment and raise living standards. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd R) talks with local residents at their home in Hekou Village, Huchang Town, Xiantao City in central China's Hubei Province, March 29, 2009.

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BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- China will foster a number of globally competitive logistics companies by 2011, said a stimulus plan of the country's logistics industry released on the government website on Friday.     All departments and local governments are urged to make efforts to achieve the goal, according to the plan, issued by the State Council, or the cabinet.     It said local authorities should help logistics companies solve problems in their development, realize a 10-percent annual growth in their output and lower the proportion of logistics expenses in the country's GDP.     The cabinet said in a notice that the country's logistics industry was affected by the unfolding global financial crisis. The stimulus plan was designated not only to promote its industrial upgrade but support development of other industries, expand consumption and increase employment.     As a composite service industry, logistics, comprising transport, storage, information industries and freight agencies, is an important part of national economy, said the plan.     The cabinet has rolled out support plans for ten industries including steel, auto and textile, targeting industrial growth, as well as restructuring and upgrading.

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.