OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS BUT ONCE AND TIME AND TIDE WAIT FOR NO MAN

- PREMIER WEN EMPHASIZES RAISING THE CHINESE ECONOMY TO A NEW LEVEL BY OVERCOMING THE FINANCIAL CRISIS

ON DECEMBER 13, 2008, WEN JIABAO, PREMIER OF THE STATE COUNCIL OF CHINA, VISITED THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE STAFF OF THE CHINESE DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN JAPAN, OVERSEAS CHINESE, CHINESE-FUNDED ORGANIZATIONS AND OVERSEAS CHINESE STUDENTS IN FUKUOKA, JAPAN AND MADE SOME REMARKS.

WEN SAID THAT THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CRISIS ROARED ON, SWIFT AND VIOLENT. EVEN WORSE, IT CONTINUED TO SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD. AT PRESENT, THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN RESULTED IN A SHARP REDUCTION IN EXTERNAL DEMANDS FOR OUR PRODUCTS. THE GROWTH OF OUR EXPORT FELL SIGNIFICANTLY. IN THE FACE OF THE DETERIORATING SITUATION, THE CPC CENTRAL COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED AN IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE: TO TAKE THE MAINTENANCE OF STABLE AND RAPID ECONOMIC GROWTH AS THE MOST IMPORTANT TASK AND TO TAKE THE EXPANSION OF DOMESTIC DEMANDS, ESPECIALLY THE EXPANSION OF CONSUMER DEMAND AS AN ESSENTIAL AND LONG-STANDING FACTOR UNDERLYING CHINA'S ECONOMIC GROWTH. WE MADE TIMELY ADJUSTMENT TO THE MACRO-ECONOMIC POLICIES, IMPLEMENTED THE PROACTIVE FISCAL POLICY AND MODERATELY RELAXED MONETARY POLICY, AND RESOLUTELY ISSUED A SERIES OF POLICIES AND MEASURES AIMING TO STIMULATE DOMESTIC DEMAND. WE MADE OVERALL PLANS AND TOOK ALL FACTORS INTO CONSIDERATION. WE COMBINED THE EXPANSION OF DOMESTIC DEMAND WITH THE MAINTENANCE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND THE PROMOTION OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT WITH THE IMPROVEMENT OF PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOOD. ALL THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE STEPPING UP THEIR EFFORTS TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THESE POLICES AND MEASURES.

WEN POINTED OUT THAT THE CHINESE NATION HAS A QUALITY TO BRAVE HARDSHIPS, NEVER TO YIELD IN SPITE OF REVERSES, AND STRIVE CONSTANTLY FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT. WHAT WE LOST IN THE DISASTER WILL BE MADE UP BY WHAT WE WILL GAIN FROM THE PROGRESS. SUCH QUALITY WAS FULLY REFLECTED IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST THE DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE THIS YEAR. NOW WE HAVE TO FACE THE ONCE-IN-A-CENTURY INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CRISIS, SUCH CHARACTER AND CONFIDENCE IS INDISPENSABLE. THE LEADERS HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE COUNTRY, BUSINESSES HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR INVESTMENT AND OPERATION, INDIVIDUALS HAVE CONFIDENCE TO CONSUME, AND OVERSEAS CHINESE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR MOTHERLAND. OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS BUT ONCE AND TIME AND TIDE WAIT FOR NO MAN. WE CAN OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES AND MAINTAIN THE STEADY AND RAPID GROWTH OF THE CHINESE ECONOMY THROUGH OUR OWN EFFORTS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WE CAN RAISE THE CHINESE ECONOMY TO A NEW LEVEL BY OVERCOMING THE FINANCIAL CRISIS AND WIN THE RESPECT FOR OUR COUNTRY AND NATION.