Premier highlights the challenges and opportunities at final NPC news conference

Premier Wen Jiabao arrives for a news conference on Wednesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. [Wu Zhiyi / China Daily]

Premier Wen Jiabao, at his final National People's Congress (NPC) news conference on Wednesday, called for reforms and set a path of both opportunity and challenge for his successor.

The Fifth Session of the 11th NPC closed on Wednesday. At the session, the NPC adopted a number of important documents, including the government work report, the central budget and the national economic and social development plan for 2012, as well as the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Law.

It also adopted decisions on deputy election for the 12th NPC and methods for the election of deputies to the 12th NPC from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions as well as the work reports of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

Addressing a range of issues, Wen said that currency reform will remain on the agenda, housing prices will be reined in and debts racked up by local governments will be dealt with. He also said that private capital would be allowed in the financial sector, and political reform would be pushed forward.

As the economy continues to develop, problems have arisen such as income disparity and corruption, and only economic and political reform can resolve these issues, Wen said.

"Reforms in China have come to a critical stage," he told about 1,000 reporters from domestic and international media organizations after the conclusion of this year's meeting of the NPC.

"Reform can only go forward and must not stand still or go backward because that offers no way out."

Wen mentioned the need for political reform. "Without successful political reform, it's impossible for China to fully institute economic reform and the gains we have made in these areas may be lost."

Wen has addressed the urgency of reform on many occasions over the past few years. On Wednesday, he said that his long interest comes from "a strong sense of responsibility".

"Even with a single breath, I'm still prepared to dedicate myself fully to advancing China's reform and the cause of opening-up," he said.

However, Wen made it clear that reforms should be gradual and prudent, as people must take into consideration national circumstances and the population of 1.3 billion.

"And I know, very well, that reform will not be easy and it cannot succeed without the consciousness, the support, the enthusiasm and creativity of our people," Wen said.

Ma Huaide, vice-president of the China University of Political Science and Law, said Wen's words showed "great determination".

"He's trying to inspire the people and the society to bring in changes," he said.

Lau Nai-keung, a political commentator in Hong Kong, said continued reform and opening-up has been the general consensus as well as national policy.

"If we decide to push ahead in this direction, we will succeed provided the moves are supported by the people and are grounded in our socio-political and cultural reality," Lau said.

While looking back on his nine-year tenure on Wednesday, which is expected to end next March, Wen appeared emotional and said he should assume responsibility for problems that had occurred in the economy and society during his term of office.

"I feel truly sorry," Wen said. Due to various factors, "there is still much room for improvement in my work".

In the last year in office, Wen said, he would be as committed as ever and continue his best efforts to serve the people, to make up for the shortfall in his work with new achievements, and to win the people's "understanding and forgiveness".

The government will formulate a plan this year for income distribution reform, he said. It will also introduce a land requisition regulation to better protect farmers' property rights, ensure the promised input in education matches 4 percent of GDP, expand coverage of the pension system and improve poverty alleviation.

"We're determined to accomplish these tasks rather than pass on the problems to the next government," he said.

He placed hope in the next generation and had full confidence that they would better his achievements, he said.

In his 45 years of service he had always strived with passion and energy to serve the country and the people and had never pursued personal gain, he said.

"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," he said. "Ultimately, history will have the final say."

Amendments in the government report

1.Original:To curb the blind expansion of the solar and wind energy industry.

Amended:To prevent the blind expansion of the manufacturing capacity of solar and wind energy facilities.

"We should prevent the industry from over-expansion because many local governments blindly launch projects. We should develop new energy. The word "curb" sounds like it is something that we should not do. The amendment is more precise and could help encourage the healthier development of the new energy industry."

Qin Shaode,chairman of Shanghai Social Sciences Association

2.Original:To improve management of the safety of school buses.

Amended:To improve management of the safety of school buses and on campus.

"In some Western countries, violence frequently occurs on campus. Improving the safety of school buses is just a part of the job to be done. We should pay more attention to ensuring safety on campus because this is in line with parents' hopes and a necessary step to protect students' rights."

Cheng Enfu,director of Academy of Marxism, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

3.Original:To improve grassroots self-governance in urban and rural areas.

Amended:To improve grassroots self-governance in urban and rural areas and make social organizations play a more active role in social management.

"The involvement of more social organizations could make social management more scientific and reasonable. Bringing non-governmental organizations and seniors', women's and young people's organizations into the process of social management could allow more views to be heard and would help the government optimize public services."

Zeng Qinghong,mayor of Jiujiang city, Jiangxi province

4.Original:To strengthen and improve petition work.

Amended:To strengthen and improve petition work and improve the mechanisms to receive the public's appeals and opinions.

"As a judge, I think it's quite necessary to set up efficient channels for the public to express their opinions and make appeals. The mechanism should first address the problem of how people can make their expressions be heard and then how the Party, the government and judicial bodies deal with them."

Kang Weimin, president of Hunan High People's Court

5.Original:To support the coordination of enterprises that "go out" by investing overseas and help them jointly develop.

Amended:To support the coordination of enterprises that "go out" by investing overseas and help them jointly develop and regulate and develop labor outsourcing.

"It is not only the enterprises that go out, but also workers. Labor outsourcing could help promote employment and deal with the large quantity of surplus labor in rural areas. Currently, there are some illegal labor companies in the market. Better regulation of labor outsourcing could help protect outsourced workers' rights and better develop the industry."

Premier Wen Jiabao at the news conference after the closing session of the National People's Congress in Beijing on Wednesday. [Photos by Wu Zhiyi / China Daily]

Listen to the premier

Editor's note:Premier Wen Jiabao listed the government's major tasks and expressed his personal feelings at the news conference after the closing session of the National People's Congress each year. Here are some of his quotes.

2003

In the following years we should carry out major rural reforms in four areas - the grain distribution system, the way that farmers are subsidized, the rural financial system and the rural healthcare system.

2004

The most important aspect of our work this year is to maintain stable and relatively fast economic growth. I think the most difficult issues are related to agriculture, farmers and rural areas. The things I am most concerned about are the vital interests of our people. And the most fundamental response to these problems is to reform, innovate and forge ahead, despite the difficulties.

2005

This law (Anti-Secession Law) is aimed at strengthening and promoting cross-Straits relations. This is a law for peaceful reunification. It is not targeted against the people of Taiwan, nor is it a war bill.

2006

The reason we put emphasis on compulsory and occupational education is because we want to orientate education toward the general public, so that everyone can enjoy it.

2007

The ultimate aim of our reforms is to meet the increasing material and cultural needs of our people. People's well-being concerns their clothes, food, living conditions and transportation. But I think at this stage the most important issue is to ensure that people enjoy equal opportunity in education.

2008

I will serve the people and exert myself working for the country ... be a good public servant and sincerely seek benefits for the people. We will exercise self-discipline, devote ourselves to the public, and serve the country and the people conscientiously.

2009

We have worked out plans to cope with even bigger difficulties. We have prepared enough "ammunition" and we can launch new economic stimulus policies at any time. The most direct, powerful and effective way to deal with the current financial crisis is to increase fiscal spending - the quicker the better.

2010

It will be an extremely difficult task for us to promote steady and fast economic growth, adjust our economic structure and manage inflation expectations. I should say that it will be very difficult to accomplish, but it is a must-do task for us.

2011

We will further increase the supply of government-subsidized housing units. This means we will try to address problems in the housing market by increasing supply.