Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao meets the press

十一届全国人大五次会议于3月14日闭幕。闭幕后，国务院总理温家宝在人民大会堂三楼金色大厅与采访十一届全国人大五次会议的中外记者见面，回答记者提出的问题。以下为温家宝答问实录：

《人民日报》记者：最近一轮房地产市场调控，大家都非常关注，中央的决心很大，力度也很大，一些城市的房价已经开始回落。请问总理，住房价格回落到什么程度才算是达到了调控目标？另外，面对经济增速放缓和地方财政压力，楼市调控会不会半途而废？谢谢。

温家宝：我最近出于一种责任感，把从2003年开始的房地产调控认真地回顾了一下。其实我们在2003年已经提出了6条调控措施，2005年又制定了国八条，2006年又制定了国六条。但是，为什么调控不见成效？群众也在责怪我们，说房价越调越高，政策不出中南海。我听到了感到十分痛心。

我觉得房地产市场关系到财政、金融、土地、企业等各项政策，涉及到中央和地方的利益关系，特别是地方从土地出让中获取大量的收入。涉及到金融企业和房地产企业的利益，改革的阻力相当之大。

为什么这两年房地产调控在艰难中看到一点曙光？有所进展。首先是我们调控的决心坚定而不动摇；其次，我们抓住了一个抑制投机和投资性需求的要害问题，采取了有针对性的政策措施。

对于房地产市场，我有个基本看法，那就是中国有13亿多人口，又处在工业化和城镇化阶段，对住房的需求是刚性的，而且将会是持续的。当然，我们说住有其居，并不意味着住者有其屋。从方向上看，应该鼓励更多的人租房。

关于房地产市场发展，我有几个观点：

第一，要保持房地产长期平稳和健康发展。如果盲目发展，出现经济泡沫，一旦破灭，不仅影响房地产市场，而且会拖累整个经济。

第二，什么叫房价合理回归？我以为合理的房价，应该是使房价与居民的收入相适应，房价与投入和合理的利润相匹配。现在我可以明确地告诉大家，房价还远远没有回到合理价位。因此，调控不能放松。如果放松，将前功尽弃，而且会造成房地产市场的混乱，不利于房地产长期健康和稳定发展。

第三，房地产的发展，毫无疑问要充分发挥市场配置资源的基础性作用，就是说要充分利用市场这只手。但是政府这只手也不可以缺少，因为它更具有稳定性和促进公平。谢谢。

People's Daily: People have paid much attention to the recent round of housing market regulation. We have seen a strong resolve and tough measures taken by the central authorities. Home prices in some Chinese cities have started to level off. How much does the home price need to drop for it to be considered as meeting the regulation target? In the face of economic slowdown and pressure of local finances, will this round of regulation measures be abandoned halfway?

Wen Jiabao: Out of a sense of responsibility, I have carefully reviewed the regulation measures we have taken for the housing market since 2003. As a matter of fact, in 2003, we already introduced six measures to regulate the housing market. In 2005, the State Council issued eight measures. In 2006, another six measures were adopted. But why haven't these measures made a difference? People have complained that the more regulation measures, the higher the home price, and that the regulation policy cannot make its way out of Zhongnanhai. I feel deeply distressed by such complaints from the people.

I have recognized that the housing market concerns our fiscal, financial, and land policies. It involves the relationship between central and local governments. It also concerns the interests of financial enterprises and real estate developers. Our regulation efforts have encountered massive resistance.

But why have we seen a glimmer of hope amidst all the difficulties in the past couple of years, and why have our measures in the recent couple of years paid off? It is because, first, we have a very firm resolve. Second, we have put our finger on the crux of the problem, that is, speculative and investment-driven demand, and we have taken targeted measures to address this problem.

My basic view on the housing market is that China is a big country with 1.3 billion people and it is at a stage of rapid industrialization and urbanization. The Chinese people's housing demand is inelastic and this kind of demand is here to stay. To provide adequate housing for all people does not mean that each and every one owns his home. We need to encourage more people to rent houses.

With respect to the development of the housing market in China, I would like to make three observations.

First, we must ensure the long-term, steady and sound growth of the housing sector. If we develop the housing sector blindly, a bubble will emerge and when it bursts, it will not only adversely affect the housing market, but also weigh on the entire Chinese economy.

Second, what do we mean by bringing home prices back to a reasonable level? What we mean is that a reasonable housing price should match people's income and the construction cost, and the profits should be reasonable too. At present, the home price in some places is far from coming back to a reasonable level. Therefore, we must not slacken the regulation efforts. Otherwise, past gains will be lost and there will be chaos in China's housing market. That is not in the interest of long-term, steady and sound growth of the housing sector in our country.

Third, in developing the housing market, we must give play to the fundamental role of the market in allocating resources. That is to say, we will make most of the "hand" of the market, but at the same time, the "hand" of the government is indispensable too, because that can help ensure stability and promote fairness.