World media praise Chinese political sessions as "breath of fresh air"

Source: Xinhua | 03-14-2009 08:22

BEIJING, March 13 (Xinhua) -- World media following the just-concluded two political sessions in Beijing are speaking highly of China's stimulus measures, and praise the conferences as "a breath of fresh air."

The two sessions are known as the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) and the Second Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

The foreign press also eyed Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's remarks when he met reporters Friday after the NPC conference ended.

Lianhe Zaobao, a leading Chinese-language newspaper in Singapore, closely followed the press conference on its web site.

Quoting Wen, its reports said China has prepared plans to cope with even bigger difficulties amid the financial crisis and is ready to roll out a new stimulus package at any time.

China will keep its currency, the yuan, stable at a reasonable and balanced level, Wen was cited as saying. "No country in the world has the right to put pressure on the devaluation or appreciation of the Chinese currency."

The U.S. Associated Press (AP) said Wen, at the press conference, explained policies by his government in response to the sweeping financial crisis and promised more stimulus measures if needed.

The AP said Wen tried to convey a message that Beijing was confident it could withstand the turmoil and used the word "confidence" five times in as many minutes at the start of the nationally televised news conference.

"Confidence is more important than gold and money," the AP quoted Wen as saying. "First and foremost, we have to have very strong confidence. Only when we have strong confidence can we have more courage and strength and only when we have courage and strength can we overcome the difficulties."