Strengthen Confidence and Work Together for A New Round of World Economic Growth

Special Message by H.E. Wen Jiabao

Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China At the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2009

28 January 2009

Professor Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to be here and address the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2009. Let me begin by thanking Chairman Schwab for his kind invitation and thoughtful arrangements. This annual meeting has a special significance. Amidst a global financial crisis rarely seen in history, it brings together government leaders, business people, experts and scholars of different countries to jointly explore ways to maintain international financial stability, promote world economic growth and better address global issues. Its theme -- "Shaping the Post-Crisis World" is highly relevant. It reflects the vision of its organizers. People from across the world are eager to hear words of wisdom from here that will give them strength to tide over the crisis. It is thus our responsibility to send to the world a message of confidence, courage and hope. I look forward to a successful meeting.

尊敬的施瓦布主席，

女士们，先生们，朋友们：

我首先在中国牛年到来的时候给大家拜年。牛年象征着勤劳、奉献和富足，我衷心祝愿我们这个世界在牛年经济得以复苏和发展，人民幸福安康。

我很高兴出席世界经济论坛2009年年会，并发表特别致辞。首先，我要感谢施瓦布主席的盛情邀请和周到安排。本届年会意义特殊，在历史罕见的国际金融危机之中，各国政要、企业家和专家学者聚集在这里，围绕"重塑危机后的世界"这一主题，共同探讨维护国际金融稳定、促进世界经济增长的举措，探索全球综合治理之道，既有重要的现实意义，也体现了会议举办者的远见卓识。各方面热切期盼从这里听到富有智慧的声音，凝聚战胜危机的力量。我们有责任向世界传递信心、勇气和希望。我预祝本届年会取得成功！

The ongoing international financial crisis has landed the world economy in the most difficult situation since last century's Great Depression. In the face of the crisis, countries and the international community have taken various measures to address it. These measures have played an important role in boosting confidence, reducing the consequences of the crisis, and forestalling a meltdown of the financial system and a deep global recession. This crisis is attributable to a variety of factors and the major ones are: inappropriate macroeconomic policies of some economies and their unsustainable model of development characterized by prolonged low savings and high consumption; excessive expansion of financial institutions in a blind pursuit of profit; lack of self-discipline among financial institutions and rating agencies and the ensuing distortion of risk information and asset pricing; and the failure of financial supervision and regulation to keep up with financial innovations, which allowed the risks of financial derivatives to build and spread. As the saying goes, "A fall in the pit, a gain in your wit," we must draw lessons from this crisis and address its root causes. In other words, we must strike a balance between savings and consumption, between financial innovation and regulation, and between the financial sector and real economy.

我们正在经历的这场国际金融危机，使世界经济陷入上世纪大萧条以来最困难的境地。各国和国际社会纷纷采取积极应对措施，对提振信心、缓解危机、防止金融体系崩溃和世界经济深度衰退起到了重要作用。这场危机的原因是多方面的。主要是：有关经济体宏观经济政策不当、长期低储蓄高消费的发展模式难以为继；金融机构片面追逐利润而过度扩张；金融及评级机构缺乏自律，导致风险信息和资产定价失真；金融监管能力与金融创新不匹配，金融衍生品风险不断积聚和扩散。"吃一堑，长一智。"我们必须从中认真吸取教训，正确处理储蓄与消费的关系，金融创新与金融监管的关系，虚拟经济与实体经济的关系，从根本上找到化解危机之策。

The current crisis has inflicted a rather big impact on China's economy. We are facing severe challenges, including notably shrinking external demand, overcapacity in some sectors, difficult business conditions for enterprises, rising unemployment in urban areas and greater downward pressure on economic growth.

坦率地说，这场危机对中国经济也造成较大冲击，我们正面临严峻挑战。主要是：外部需求明显收缩，部分行业产能过剩，企业生产经营困难，城镇失业人员增多，经济增长下行的压力明显加大。

As a big responsible country, China has acted in an active and responsible way during this crisis. We mainly rely on expanding effective domestic demand, particularly consumer demand, to boost economic growth. We have made timely adjustment to the direction of our macroeconomic policy, swiftly adopted a proactive fiscal policy and a moderately easy monetary policy, introduced ten measures to shore up domestic demand and put in place a series of related policies. Together, they make up a systematic and comprehensive package plan aimed at ensuring steady and relatively fast economic growth.

中国作为一个负责任的大国，在危机中采取了积极负责的态度。我们把扩大国内有效需求特别是消费需求作为促进经济增长的基本立足点。及时调整宏观经济政策取向，果断实施积极的财政政策和适度宽松的货币政策，迅速出台扩大国内需求的十项措施，陆续制定和实施一系列政策，形成了系统完整的促进经济平稳较快发展的一揽子计划。这个计划包括：#p#分页标题#e#

First, substantially increase government spending and implement a structural tax cut. The Chinese Government has rolled out a two-year program involving a total investment of RMB 4 trillion, equivalent to 16 percent of China's GDP in 2007.

一是大规模增加政府支出和实施结构性减税。中国政府推出了总额达4万亿的两年计划，规模相当于2007年中国GDP的16%。

The investment will mainly go to government-subsidized housing projects, projects concerning the well-being of rural residents, railway construction and other infrastructural projects, environmental protection projects and post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction. Some of them are identified as priority projects in China's 11th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development. The rest are additional ones to meet the needs of the new situation. This two-year stimulus program has gone through scientific feasibility studies and is supported by a detailed financial arrangement. RMB 1.18 trillion will come from central government's budget, which is expected to generate funds from local governments and other sources. The Chinese Government has also launched a massive tax cut program which features the comprehensive transformation of the value-added tax, the adoption of preferential tax policies for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and real estate transactions, and the abolition or suspension of 100 items of administrative fees. It is expected to bring about a total saving of RMB 500 billion for businesses and households each year.

主要投向保障性安居工程、农村民生工程、铁路交通等基础设施、生态环保等方面的建设和地震灾后恢复重建，这里既有“十一五”规划内加快实施的项目，也有根据发展需要新增的项目。这个计划经过了科学论证，在资金保证上作了周密的安排，其中中央政府计划投资1.18万亿元，并带动地方和社会资金参与建设。中国政府还推出了大规模的减税计划，主要是全面实施增值税转型，出台中小企业、房地产交易相关税收优惠政策等措施，取消和停征100项行政事业性收费，一年可减轻企业和居民负担约5000亿元。

Second, frequently cut interest rates and increase liquidity in the banking system. The central bank has cut deposit and lending rates of financial institutions five times in a row, with the one-year benchmark deposit and lending rates down by 1.89 percentage points and 2.16 percentage points respectively. Thus the financial burden of companies has been greatly reduced. The required reserve ratio has been lowered four times, adding up to a total reduction of 2 percentage points for large financial institutions and 4 percentage points for small and medium-sized ones. This has released around RMB 800 billion of liquidity and substantially increased funds available to commercial banks. A series of policy measures have been adopted in the financial sector to boost economic growth, including increasing lending, optimizing the credit structure, and providing greater financial support to agriculture and the SMEs.

二是大频度降息和增加银行体系流动性。中央银行连续5次下调金融机构存贷款利率，其中一年期存、贷款基准利率累计分别下调1.89和2.16个百分点，大幅度减轻企业财务负担。连续4次下调存款准备金率，大型金融机构累计下调2个百分点，中小型金融机构累计下调4个百分点，共释放流动性约8000亿元，使商业银行可用资金大幅增加。我们还出台一系列金融促进经济增长的政策措施，扩大贷款总量，优化信贷结构，加大对“三农”、中小企业等方面的金融支持。

Third, implement the industrial restructuring and rejuvenation program on a large scale. We are seizing the opportunity to push ahead comprehensive industrial restructuring and upgrading. To this end, plans are being drawn up for key industries such as automobile and iron and steel, which not only focus on addressing the immediate difficulties of enterprises but also look toward their long-term development. We have taken strong measures to facilitate the merger and reorganization of enterprises, phase out backward production capacity, promote advanced productive forces, and improve industry concentration and the efficiency of resource allocation. We encourage our enterprises to upgrade technologies and make technological renovation. We support them in making extensive use of new technologies, techniques, equipment and materials to restructure their product mix, develop marketable products and improve their competitiveness. Our financial support policies are being improved, a sound credit guarantee system installed and market access eased for the benefit of SME development.

三是大范围实施产业调整振兴规划。我们抓住机遇全面推进产业结构调整和优化升级，制定汽车、钢铁等重点产业的调整和振兴规划，既着眼于解决企业当前存在的困难，又致力于产业的长远发展。采取有力措施，推进企业兼并重组，淘汰落后产能，发展先进生产力，提高产业集中度和资源配置效率。我们鼓励企业技术进步和技术改造，支持企业广泛应用新技术、新工艺、新设备、新材料，调整产品结构，开发适销对路的产品，提高生产经营水平。我们不断完善和落实金融支持政策，健全信用担保体系，放宽市场准入，支持中小企业发展。

Fourth, actively encourage innovation and upgrading in science and technology. We are speeding up the implementation of the National Program for Medium- and Long-Term Scientific and Technological Development with a special focus on 16 key projects in order to make breakthroughs in core technologies and key generic technologies. This will provide scientific and technological support for China's sustainable economic development at a higher level. We are developing high-tech industrial clusters and creating new social demand and new economic growth areas.#p#分页标题#e#

四是大力度推进科技创新和技术改造。加快实施国家中长期科学和技术发展规划，特别是16个重大专项，突破一批核心技术和关键共性技术，为中国经济在更高水平上实现可持续发展提供科技支撑。推动发展高新技术产业群，创造新的社会需求，培育新的经济增长点。

Fifth, substantially raise the level of social security. We have accelerated the improvement of social safety net. We will continue to increase basic pension for enterprise retirees and upgrade the standard of unemployment insurance and workers' compensation. We will raise the level of basic cost of living allowances in both urban and rural areas, welfare allowances for those rural residents without family support and the special allowances and assistance to entitled groups. This year, the central budget for social security and employment will increase at a much higher rate than the growth of the overall fiscal revenue.

五是大幅度提高社会保障水平。我们加快完善社会保障体系，继续提高企业退休人员基本养老金，提高失业保险金和工伤保险金的标准，提高城乡低保、农村五保等保障水平，提高优抚对象抚恤和生活补助标准。今年，中央财政用于社会保障和就业的资金投入增幅将大大高于财政收入的增幅。

We are advancing the reform of the medical and health system and working to put in place a nationwide basic medical and health system covering both urban and rural areas within three years and achieve the goal of everyone having access to basic medical and health service. It is estimated that governments at all levels will invest RMB 850 billion for this purpose. We give priority to education and are now working on the Guidelines of the National Program for Medium- and Long-Term Educational Reform and Development.

我们积极推进医药卫生体制改革，力争用三年时间基本建成覆盖全国城乡的基本医疗卫生制度，初步实现人人享有基本医疗卫生服务，预计三年内各级政府将为此投入8500亿元。我们坚持优先发展教育，正在制度国家中长期教育改革和规划发展纲要。

This year, we will increase public funds for compulsory education in rural areas, offer more financial support to students from poor families and improve the well-being of middle and primary school teachers so as to promote equity in education and optimize the educational structure. We are using every possible means to lessen the impact of the financial crisis on employment.

今年将进一步提高农村义务教育公用经费标准，加大对家庭经济困难学生的资助，提高中小学教师待遇，继续促进教育公平和优化教育结构。我们实施更加积极的就业政策。特别是出台了大学毕业生和农民工就业的各项措施，进一步开辟公益性就业岗位，千方百计减缓金融危机对就业的影响。

We are following a more active employment policy. In particular, we have introduced various policy measures to help college graduates and migrant workers find jobs and provided more government-funded jobs in public service. These major policy measures as a whole target both symptoms and root causes, and address both immediate and long-term concerns. They represent a holistic approach and are mutually reinforcing. They are designed to address the need to boost domestic demand, readjust and reinvigorate industries, encourage scientific innovation and strengthen social security. They are designed to stimulate consumption through increased investment, overcome the current difficulties with long-term development in mind, and promote economic growth in the interest of people's livelihood. These measures can mobilize all resources to meet the current crisis.

总的看，这些重大政策措施，注重标本兼治、远近结合、综合协调、相互促进，把扩大国内需求、调整振兴产业、推进科技创新、加强社会保障结合起来，把增加投资和刺激消费结合起来，把克服当前困难和促进长远发展结合起来，把拉动经济增长和改善民生结合起来，对于动员全社会力量共同应对危机，起到了关键性作用。

China's economy is in good shape on the whole. We managed to maintain steady and relatively fast economic growth in 2008 despite two unexpected massive natural disasters. Our GDP grew by 9 percent. CPI was basically stable. We had a good grain harvest for the fifth consecutive year, with a total output of 528.5 million tons. Eleven million and one hundred and thirty thousand new jobs were created in cities and towns. Household income in both urban and rural areas continued to rise. The financial system functioned well and the banking system kept its liquidity and credit asset quality at a healthy level. When China, a large developing country, runs its affairs well, it can help restore confidence in global economic growth and curb the spread of the international financial crisis. It will also help increase China's imports and outbound investment, boost world economic growth and create more development and job opportunities for other countries. Steady and fast growth of China's economy is in itself an important contribution to global financial stability and world economic growth.

当前中国经济形势总体上是好的。经过努力，在战胜两场突如其来的特大自然灾害的同时，2008年中国经济保持了平稳较快发展。国内生产总值增长9%，居民消费价格基本稳定；粮食连续5年丰收，总产量达到5.28亿吨；城镇新增就业1113万人，城乡居民收入持续增加；金融体系稳健运行，银行体系流动性和信贷资产质量保持在较好水平。作为一个发展中大国，中国把自己的事情办好，有利于提振对世界经济增长的信心，有利于减缓国际金融危机扩散蔓延趋势，有利于增加中国的进口和对外投资，拉动世界经济增长，给其他国家提供更多发展机遇和就业机会。中国经济保持平稳较快发展，对维护国际金融稳定和促进世界经济增长作出了重要贡献。#p#分页标题#e#

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Will China's economy continue to grow fast and steadily? Some people may have doubts about it. Yet I can give you a definite answer: Yes, it will. We are full of confidence. Where does our confidence come from? It comes from the fact that the fundamentals of China's economy remain unchanged. Thanks to our right judgment of the situation and prompt and decisive adjustment to our macroeconomic policy, our economy remains on the track of steady and fast development. Our package plan takes into consideration both the need to address current difficulties and that of long-term development. It is beginning to produce results and will be more effective this year. Our confidence comes from the fact that the long-term trend of China's economic development remains unchanged.

女士们，先生们：

中国经济能不能继续保持平稳较快发展？有些人可能会有疑虑。我可以给大家一个肯定的回答：我们对此充满信心。我们的信心来自哪里？

信心来自中国经济发展的基本面没有改变。由于我们正确判断形势、及时果断调整宏观经济政策，中国经济仍然保持了平稳较快发展。我们制定并实施的既应对当前困难又着眼长远发展的一揽子计划，开始见到效果，今年将发挥更大作用。

We are in an important period of strategic opportunities and in the process of fast industrialization and urbanization. Infrastructure construction, upgrading of industrial and consumption structures, environmental protection and conservation projects, and various social development programs--all can be translated into huge demand and growth potential and will bolster relatively high-speed growth of our economy for a long time to come. Our confidence also comes from the fact that the advantages contributing to China's economic growth remain unchanged. With 30 years' of reform and opening-up, we have laid a good material, technological and institutional foundation.

We have a large well-trained and relatively low-cost labor force. We have a healthy fiscal balance, a sound financial system and adequate funds. Our system enables us to mobilize the necessary resources for big undertakings. There is harmony and stability in our society. What is more important, we follow a scientific approach to development which puts people first and seeks comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development. We are committed to reform, opening-up and win-win progress. We have found the right development path in line with China's national conditions and the trend of our times. Our people are hard-working, persevering and resilient. It is precisely these fine qualities that endow China, a country with a time-honored history, with greater vitality in the face of adversities.

信心来自中国经济发展的长期趋势没有改变。我们仍处于重要战略机遇期，在工业化和城镇化快速推进中，基础设施建设、产业结构和消费结构升级、环境保护和生态建设、社会事业发展，蕴藏着巨大的需求和增长潜力，它将有力支撑中国经济在较长时间内继续保持较高速度增长。

信心来自中国经济发展的优势没有改变。经过30年改革开放，我们建立了良好的物质、技术和体制基础。劳动力资源丰富、素质较高、成本较低；国家财政收支状况良好，金融体系稳健，社会资金充裕；我们有集中力量办大事的制度优势、和谐安定的社会环境。更为重要的是，我们树立了以人为本、全面协调可持续发展的科学发展理念，始终坚持改革开放，始终奉行互利共赢的开放战略，找到了一条符合中国国情、顺应时代潮流的正确发展道路；我们的人民拥有坚韧不拔、自强不息、百折不挠的精神和意志，正是这些优秀品质，使历史悠久的中国在逆境中焕发更加强劲的生命力。

At the same time, there is no fundamental change in the external environment for China's economic growth. The pursuit of peace, development and cooperation is the irreversible trend in today's world. The readjustment to the international division of labor offers new opportunities. We have the confidence, conditions and ability to maintain steady and fast economic growth and continue to contribute to world economic growth.

同时，中国经济发展的外部环境没有根本改变，求和平、谋发展、促合作是当今世界发展不可阻挡的潮流，国际分工格局调整中蕴藏着新的机遇。我们完全有信心、有条件、有能力继续保持经济平稳较快发展，继续为世界经济发展做出积极贡献。

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The global financial crisis is a challenge for the whole world. Confidence, cooperation and responsibility are key to overcoming the crisis. Confidence is the source of strength. The power of confidence is far greater than what can be imagined. The pressing task for the international community and individual countries is to take further measures to restore market confidence as soon as possible. In times of economic hardships, confidence of all countries in the prospect of global economic development, confidence of leaders and people around the world in their countries, confidence of enterprises in investment and confidence of individuals in consumption are more important than anything else. In tackling the crisis, practical cooperation is the effective way.

女士们，先生们：

国际金融危机是一场全球性的挑战，战胜这场危机要靠信心、合作和责任。坚定信心是战胜危机的力量源泉。信念的力量，远比想象的更为强大。国际社会和各国当务之急，是继续采取一切必要的措施，尽快恢复市场信心。在经济困难面前，各国对世界经济发展的前景有信心，国家领导人和各国人民对自己的国家有信心，企业对投资有信心，个人对消费有信心，这比什么都重要。务实合作是战胜危机的有效途径。#p#分页标题#e#

In a world of economic globalization, countries are tied together in their destinies and can hardly be separated from one another. The financial crisis is a test of the readiness of the international community to enhance cooperation, and a test of our wisdom. Only with closer cooperation and mutual help, can we successfully manage the crisis. To prevail over the crisis, accepting responsibilities is the prerequisite. When governments fulfill their responsibilities with resolution and courage, they can help maintain a stable financial order and prevent the crisis from causing more serious damage on the real economy. Political leaders must be forward-looking. They should be responsible to the entire international community as well as to their own countries and people.

在经济全球化条件下，大家的命运已经联系在一起，谁也离不开谁。金融危机检验着国际社会加强合作的诚意和水平，考验着我们的智慧。只有加强合作，携手努力，同舟共济，才能有效应对危机。承担责任是战胜危机不可或缺的重要基础。各国政府坚定、勇敢、负责地承担起责任，对于稳定金融秩序、防止危机对实体经济影响加深，十分重要。政治家要有远见卓识，既要对自己的国家和人民负责，也要对国际社会负责。

It is imperative that we implement the broad agreement reached since the G20 Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy. We should not only take more forceful and effective steps to tide over the current difficulties, but also push for the establishment of a new world economic order that is just, equitable, sound and stable. To this end, I would like to share with you the following ideas.

当前，应当抓紧落实20国集团领导人金融市场和世界经济峰会以来达成的广泛共识，不仅要采取更加积极有效的措施渡过当前难关，而且要努力推动建立公正、合理、健康、稳定的世界经济新秩序。为此，我提出以下意见。