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：

法新社记者：总理您好，我是法新社记者。自去年以来，我们看到在中国藏区出现了一系列藏人自焚的现象。我想问您本人是否对这一现象深感关切？您认为您领导的政府将采用什么样的方式才能最好地应对这个局面？

温家宝：最近一段时间，在藏区发生了一些僧人自焚的现象。我们不赞成用这种极端的行动来干扰、破坏社会的和谐。年轻的僧人是无辜的，我们对他们这种行为感到十分沉痛。

应该明确的是，西藏和四省藏区都是中国领土不可分割的部分。在印度达兰萨拉设立的所谓的“西藏流亡政府”，不管是达赖喇嘛直接操控还是间接影响，都是政教合一的，其目的就是要把西藏和藏区从祖国分离出去。在这个问题上，我们的立场和原则是坚定的。

在西藏，我们实行民族区域自治制度。虽然西藏这些年经济社会有了很大的发展，但是毋庸讳言，西藏同内地相比较还是落后的。因此，中央已经采取了积极的措施，包括制定和落实加快西藏发展的新规划。这些政策措施的主要目的，在于提高农牧民的生活。

西藏经济要发展，但同时要注意保护西藏的生态环境和文化传统。我们尊重西藏同胞的宗教信仰自由，他们的信仰是受到法律保护的。我们对藏族同胞要采取平等和尊重的态度，并且不断地改善我们的工作。谢谢。

温家宝：如果不累的话，我们再提两个问题。

中国新闻社记者：总理您好。我们知道，中国经济多年来强劲增长，但贫富差距问题也日益突出。您在最近几年的政府工作报告中多次提到要努力扭转收入分配差距扩大的趋势。请问中国政府将采取哪些措施来解决这个问题？让更多的人民分享改革和发展的成果。谢谢。

温家宝：关于缓解收入分配差距的问题，我想着重从四个方面入手：

第一，提高城乡居民的收入，提高最低工资水平，使城乡居民的收入能与经济增长和劳动生产率的提高相适应。第二，调节收入分配。要限制高收入者的收入，特别是国有企业和国有金融企业高管人员的收入，要增加中等收入的比重。第三，建立健全社会保障制度。第四，保护合法收入和取缔非法收入。

我以为在收入分配当中，特别应该把握好三点：

首先，就是要为所有的人创造一个学习、就业和创业的均等条件，让他们在同一起跑线上起跑。其次，要关心弱势群体的生活。一个国家如果弱势群体生活状况得以改善，那么整个国家群众生活的状况也会得以改善。第三，要重视财政和收入分配制度的改革，使共同富裕建立在制度的基础之上。谢谢。

AFP: Thank you very much for accepting this question by AFP. Over the last year, there has been a spate of self-immolation in the Tibetan areas of China. Is it a matter of concern to you personally and what do you think your government can do? What's the best way for your government to address this situation? Thank you very much.

Wen Jiabao: In the past weeks and months, there have been several instances of self-immolation by monks in the Tibetan-inhabited areas of China. We are against taking such radical moves to disturb and undermine social harmony. The young monks are innocent, and we feel deeply distressed by their behavior.

At the same time, I must point out that all should recognize that Tibet and the Tibetan-inhabited areas of the four provinces are inseparable parts of China's territory. The so-called "Tibetan government in exile" in Dharamsala of India is theocratic either under the direct control of the Dalai Lama or under his indirect influence. Its purpose is to separate Tibet and the Tibetan-inhabited areas from the motherland. We have a firm position and principle on this matter.

Tibet practices the regional ethnic autonomy system. Over the past years, Tibet has made significant progress in economic and social development. But we also recognize that Tibet is still relatively backward compared with the central and eastern parts of China. The Central Government has taken strong measures to accelerate the economic and social development in Tibet, including the formulation of a new plan to raise the living standards of the farmers and herdsmen.

Tibet needs to develop its economy. At the same time, we must pay close attention to eco-environment conservation and preservation of Tibet's cultural heritage. We respect the freedom of religious belief of Tibetan compatriots, and their religious belief is protected by the law. We must treat all our Tibetan compatriots as equals and with respect, and make continuous improvement in our work in this area.

Wen Jiabao: If you are not tired, I can answer two more questions.

China News Service: The Chinese economy has sustained a robust growth over recent years, but at the same time, the problem of a wealth gap has become more acute. In your government work reports in recent years, you have said several times that the government needs to reverse the trend of widening income gap. What steps will the government take to resolve this problem so that more Chinese people can truly share the fruits of China's reform and development?

Wen Jiabao: To address the problem of income disparities, I believe it is important that we take steps in the following four areas.

First, we will continue to increase the income of urban and rural residents and raise the level of minimum wage so that people's income will rise in tandem with economic growth and increase in productivity. Second, we will adjustment income distribution. We will further restrict the income of high-income groups, including the income of senior management of state-owned enterprises and state-owned financial enterprises. We will raise the proportion of middle-income groups. Third, we will further improve the social security system. And fourth, we will protect lawful income and resolutely ban illegal income.

I believe the following three points are very important with respect to income distribution.

First, the government must create equal opportunities and conditions for all in terms of education, employment and business start-up so that all people will able to proceed from the same starting line. Second, we must pay closer attention to the life of people in difficulties. I believe if the living conditions of those people can be improved, the life of all people in the society will improve. Third, we must continue to reform the fiscal system and income distribution system so as to put in place the institutional arrangements to achieve the goal of common prosperity.