Wen addresses press conference (full text) (China Daily) Updated: 2005-03-15 02:11
Press Trust of India: India and China will see the 55th anniversary of
their establishment of a diplomatic relationship next month. How do you see the
prospects of this bilateral relationship? Can we be good friends and good
neighbours?
Wen: I hope the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations
between China and India will become a new point of departure for deeper
friendship and better co-operation between the two countries. I believe that our
relationship has already entered a new developmental stage.
Soon I will pay a visit to India. The focus of my visit will be to achieve
agreement on three important issues.
One is to come to grips with the importance of friendship between China and
India from a strategic and comprehensive perspective.
Because our combined population is 2.5 billion, more than 40 per cent of the
world total, the importance of friendship between China and India is
immeasurable for Asian countries as well as for the world.
Second, there is tremendous potential to be tapped into between our two
countries. Therefore we should strengthen co-operation and strive for common
development. Although trade between our two countries was only about US$13.6
billion last year, there is tremendous potential for further growth.
Third, our two countries should set down principles for solving the
historical boundary issues. A fair and reasonable solution that is acceptable to
both sides should be found on the basis of equal consultation, mutual
understanding and mutual accommodation with respect for history and
accommodation of reality.
I wish to ask this reporter to send my message back to the Indian people that
China and India are not competitors, we are friends. I wish to conclude by
quoting from an ancient Indian scripture, probably written more than 3,000 years
ago in Sanskrit, that is in the title of "Upanisad." It is to the effect: "May
He protect us both together. May He nourish us both together. May we work
conjointly with great energy. May our study be vigorous and effective. May we
not hate anyone. Let there be peace, let there be peace, let there be peace."
Handelsblatt, Germany: There has been discussion about the death penalty
during the last week. It is said that there has been heated debate within the
government about the question of whether the death penalty makes any sense any
longer. Is your government really planning to abolish the death penalty? And, if
so, when? Possibly before the Olympics?
Wen: China is reforming its judicial system, including taking the right to
review death penalty to the Supreme People's Court. However, given our national
condition, we will not abolish the death penalty.In over half of the countries
in the world, the death penalty still exists. However, what we are doing is to
institute an effective system in China to ensure prudence and justice when the
death penalty is given.
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