No-nonsense Wen tackles tough issues

Reporters at the press conference of Premier Wen Jiabao at the Great Hall of the People on Sunday.[Yang Zongyou/Xinhua]

Beijing: With a steady gaze, Premier Wen Jiabao met the press on Sunday in a grave affair that reflected the steadfast resolve of the country to tackle various economic issues, as well as new challenges that China faces as a growing power on the global stage.

About 1,000 domestic and overseas journalists packed the conference room in the Great Hall of the People about two hours ahead of the briefing, despite traffic problems caused by the rare spring snowfall.

During the two-hour briefing, the 68-year-old premier fielded questions from 13 reporters, using deliberate gestures and answers, as well as Chinese phrases and anecdotes that often set reporters buzzing.

Economic issues, from China's currency policy to its alarming inflation expectations, dominated the conference, with nine of the 13 questions related to finance and trade. Three other questions were about China's foreign policy and its role in global climate change negotiations, with the last question addressing domestic social justice and equality.

Wen's "no-nonsense" approach to the issues of the day struck a chord with members of the press, who said the briefing, following the closure of the National People's Congress annual session, was a success.

"It was a nice press conference," said Benjamin Lim, Reuter's Beijing bureau chief, who had a chance to question the premier about the safety of China's assets in the United States.

He said it was not unusual for reporters to raise so many economic-related questions, as not only Chinese people now care about the Chinese economy, the world is also watching China.

"When China gets a cold, the world sneezes," he said.

Kelly Wang, a reporter from Taiwan's United Daily News, said the most exciting moment during the press conference was when Premier Wen answered her question about the planned Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

"From his answer, Taiwan farmers can be assured that the mainland will let Taiwan people benefit more from the ECFA, as the premier promised, though I hoped he would disclose more details," she said.

Zhang Quanling, a reporter with the State broadcaster China Central Television, was also lucky to get a "smile" promise from Premier Wen.

When he was asked how China would address the relationship between a developing economy and curbing inflation, Wen said the government would react with "caution and flexibility" to domestic and international economic trends, assuring the reporter: "I believe that I can still face you with a broad smile at next year's press conference."

However, many reporters were not so fortunate in having their questions answered. "I hoped the briefing would be longer so that reporters could ask more questions, especially those related to people's livelihoods, such as soaring house prices," said Cui Li, a reporter from China Youth Daily.