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：

路透社记者：最后两个问题，第一个问题是关于您在政府工作报告中提到的地方债务的问题，您是怎么看待这个问题？到现在为止全国各地方政府的债务已经形成什么样的规模？在处理这个问题的过程中，你有什么想法呢？到底有多少债务会进行重组，还款的期限是否会延期？在应对这个问题过程中还有什么新的政策会出台？ 第二个问题是关于大家很关心的重庆市发生的所谓“王立军事件”。王立军进入美国领事馆以后，中央的有关部门已经进行调查。您本人是怎么看待这个事件的？您觉得这一事件会不会影响中央政府对重庆市政府和市委领导的信任？谢谢。

温家宝：关于地方政府债务问题，我想明确地告诉你以下几点：第一，中国政府债务的负担率和赤字率目前处于较低的水平，低于许多发达国家和新兴经济体。

第二，政府性债务的水平是可控的、安全的。2010年，我们主动审计了地方债务，总规模为10.7万亿。2011年，新增债务仅有3亿，其中新举债21536亿，偿债21533亿。

第三，对于地方债务的处置，我们将妥善处理存量，严格控制增量。对存量，主要是通过分类管理、区别对待、逐步化解的原则加以处置；对于增量，今后所有的地方债务，都必须列入财政预算和决算，接受同级人民代表大会的监督。

第四，在处理地方债务上，因为大量的债务形成的还是优质资产，有现金流和收益。对于这样的企业，我们将通过它的收益来进行偿还。对于公益性项目，要通过政府，包括中央政府和地方政府负责偿还。我可以负责地告诉你，我们去年已经成功地偿还了所有义务教育阶段学校的债务。

当然，在偿还地方债务中，我们也会采取市场化的办法。比如资产处置、项目转让和股权出售。总之，我们会认真对待地方债务，绝不会让它干扰中国的建设。

温家宝：王立军事件发生以后，引起社会的高度关注，国际社会也十分关注。我可以告诉大家，中央高度重视，立即责成有关部门进行专门调查。目前调查已经取得进展，我们将以事实为依据，以法律为准则，严格依法办理。调查和处理的结果一定会给人民以回答，并且经受住法律和历史的检验。

多年来，重庆市历届政府和广大人民群众，为改革建设事业付出了很大的努力，也取得了明显的成绩。但是现任重庆市委和市政府必须反思，并认真从王立军事件中吸取教训。

我在这里想讲一段话。建国以来，在党和政府的领导下，我国的现代化建设事业取得了巨大的成就，但是我们也走过弯路，有过教训。党的十一届三中全会，特别是中央作出关于正确处理若干历史问题的决议以来，确立了解放思想、实事求是的思想路线和党的基本路线，并且做出了改革开放这一决定中国命运和前途的重大抉择。

历史告诉我们，一切符合人民利益的实践，都要认真吸取历史的经验教训，并且经受住历史和实践的考验。这个道理全国人民懂得。因此，我们对未来抱有信心。

温家宝：我认真没有敷衍地回答了记者朋友的每一个问题，整整三个小时了。是不是可以结束了？

Reuters: I have two questions. You referred to the problem of local government debt in your government work report. I would like to get your personal perspective on this matter. How big exactly is the local government debt at the moment? What are your thoughts about addressing this problem? How much debt will be reorganized? Will there be payment extension? Do you plan to introduce new policies in handling this issue? Secondly, a question about the Wang Lijun incident of Chongqing. I have noticed that the relevant governmental departments of China have conducted investigation into this matter after Wang Lijun entered the U.S. consulate. How do you see this matter? Will this matter affect the trust or confidence of the Central Government in the leadership of the Chongqing Municipal Government and party committee?

Wen Jiabao: On local government debt, I would like to make the following points. First, the government debt to GDP and budget deficit to GDP ratios in China is at fairly low levels. They are both lower than those of many developed countries and emerging economies.

Second, government debt in China is at a controllable and safe level. In 2010, we audited local government debts. The volume stood at 10.7 trillion yuan ($1.7 trillion). And by the end of 2011, this figure only increased by 300 million yuan ($47.6 million). A total of 2,153.6 billion yuan ($341.8 billion) of new loans were made and a total of 2,153.3 billion yuan ($341.8 billion) of debts were repaid.

Third, in handling local government debts, we will properly handle the debt stock and strictly control the increase. We will handle the outstanding debt in a step by step manner by classifying the debt into different categories and managing them accordingly. For any increase in local government debt, the revenues and expenditures must be incorporated into the local governments' budgets and final accounts and be subject to the supervision of people's congresses at the same level.

Fourth, the majority of local government debt is actually in the form of high-quality assets with cash flows and returns. The debts of some projects can be repaid by the returns made on those projects. And for projects of public welfare, both the central and local governments will find ways to pay the debt off. I can tell you in a responsible way that, last year, we paid off all the debts of the schools providing compulsory education.

At the same time, we will let the market play a role in handling the local government debts through such ways as asset disposal, transfer of projects, and selling of equity. In a word, we will take the matter of local government debt very seriously and we will not allow it to adversely affect China's development.

Wen Jiabao: The Wang Lijun incident has received high attention from people in China and the international community. I would like to tell you that the central authorities take this matter very seriously. Shortly after this incident took place, the central authorities gave the instruction that the relevant authorities start an investigation into this matter, and so far progress has been made in the investigation. We will handle this issue in strict accordance with law on the basis of facts. As far as the result of the investigation and how this matter will be handled are concerned, an answer must be given to the people and the result of the investigation should be able to stand the test of the law and history.

Over the years, the successive governments of Chongqing and the people in Chongqing have made tremendous efforts to promote reform and development and they have achieved remarkable progress in this regard. The current party committee and government of Chongqing must reflect on the Wang Lijun incident and learn lessons from this incident.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, under the leadership of our Party and the government, remarkable achievements have been made in advancing China's modernization drive. Yet at the same time, we have taken some detours and learned lessons. Since the Third Plenum of the 11th CPC Central Committee, in particular since the central authorities adopted the resolution on certain questions in the history of our Party since the founding of the People's Republic of China, we have established the line of thinking that we should free our minds and seek truth from facts, and we have formulated the basic guideline of our Party. In particular, we have taken the major decision of conducting reform and opening up in China, a decision that is crucial for China's future and destiny.

What has happened shows that any practice that we take must be based on the experience and lessons we have gained from history and it must serve the people's interests. The practice that we take must be able to stand the test of history and the reality. I believe the people fully recognize this point, and I have confidence in our future.

Wen Jiabao: I have given serious answers to all the questions from journalists and none of my answers is a perfunctory one. It's been three hours. So I suppose we can call it the end of the press conference. Thank you. Goodbye.