Premier lets out some emotions
By Dong Zhen |
March 15, 2012, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
IN an emotional final news conference in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Premier Wen Jiabao touched on his personal sentiments and feelings about serving the country as he nears the end of his decade-long term of office.
He mentioned the pain of being misunderstood, stressed his unbounded devotion and loyalty to serving the people and also revealed plans for his post-retirement travel, with Taiwan a desirable destination.
Wen also said he should assume responsibility for the problems that had occurred in China's economy and society during his term of office.
"I feel truly sorry," Wen said.
"Due to incompetent abilities and institutional and other factors, there is still much room for improvement in my work," Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying.
"I often feel that much work remains to be finished, many things have yet to be properly addressed, and there are many regrets," said Wen, who has been in office for nine years. "They have been nine difficult but momentous years."
"This is the final time I meet you here after the annual political sessions," Wen told nearly 1,000 journalists in the place where he made his premiership debut in 2003.
He vowed that in his overall 45 years of government service, he "has never sought private benefits."
"I sincerely wish to contribute some valuable things for the people throughout my lifetime. And after my passing, people can just forget about me and all my past will just rest in peace with me underground," the premier said.
"I will work as a burdened old horse in my last year in office to the very last day," Wen said.
With a nod to the ever-growing power of the Internet, the premier said that all rights of the government are granted by the people and it's good to have an environment for people to criticize the government. He said in many cases, the voices of criticism were inspiring and they often affected the government as it made decisions regarding important social matters.
He even said he's considering having representatives of the critics be invited to the central government office to talk face to face with the country's top decision makers.
He attributed the award that he recently received from an American association to the growing benefits of trade between China and the US.
Wen received the "Best Friend of American Worker" award from America's International Longshoremen's Association early this month. The association said the award was granted in appreciation of China's strong support for the growth of jobs for American workers.
"This is more an example to indicate progress from mutual trade benefits between the two countries than simply an award to me," he said.
The premier also told the media he's willing to make a trip to Taiwan as a tourist after his retirement.
Wen said he placed hope on the next generation and had full confidence that they would do better than him, Xinhua reported.
"I have the courage to face the people, and to face history," Wen said.
"There are people who will appreciate what I have done but there are also people who will criticize me," the premier said. "Ultimately, history will have the final say."
He mentioned the pain of being misunderstood, stressed his unbounded devotion and loyalty to serving the people and also revealed plans for his post-retirement travel, with Taiwan a desirable destination.
Wen also said he should assume responsibility for the problems that had occurred in China's economy and society during his term of office.
"I feel truly sorry," Wen said.
"Due to incompetent abilities and institutional and other factors, there is still much room for improvement in my work," Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying.
"I often feel that much work remains to be finished, many things have yet to be properly addressed, and there are many regrets," said Wen, who has been in office for nine years. "They have been nine difficult but momentous years."
"This is the final time I meet you here after the annual political sessions," Wen told nearly 1,000 journalists in the place where he made his premiership debut in 2003.
He vowed that in his overall 45 years of government service, he "has never sought private benefits."
"I sincerely wish to contribute some valuable things for the people throughout my lifetime. And after my passing, people can just forget about me and all my past will just rest in peace with me underground," the premier said.
"I will work as a burdened old horse in my last year in office to the very last day," Wen said.
With a nod to the ever-growing power of the Internet, the premier said that all rights of the government are granted by the people and it's good to have an environment for people to criticize the government. He said in many cases, the voices of criticism were inspiring and they often affected the government as it made decisions regarding important social matters.
He even said he's considering having representatives of the critics be invited to the central government office to talk face to face with the country's top decision makers.
He attributed the award that he recently received from an American association to the growing benefits of trade between China and the US.
Wen received the "Best Friend of American Worker" award from America's International Longshoremen's Association early this month. The association said the award was granted in appreciation of China's strong support for the growth of jobs for American workers.
"This is more an example to indicate progress from mutual trade benefits between the two countries than simply an award to me," he said.
The premier also told the media he's willing to make a trip to Taiwan as a tourist after his retirement.
Wen said he placed hope on the next generation and had full confidence that they would do better than him, Xinhua reported.
"I have the courage to face the people, and to face history," Wen said.
"There are people who will appreciate what I have done but there are also people who will criticize me," the premier said. "Ultimately, history will have the final say."
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