Other highlights from premier’s news conference:
On elderly and infant services
The availability of nursing services for the elderly and infants in China is insufficient, and the situation deserves the highest attention. Even if China accelerates the building of nursing homes and multifunctional nursery schools, the shortage may not be completely remedied due to the aging of the population in China. Innovative measures are needed to address shortages of such services to meet public demand. Developing community-based nursing services for the elderly and infants can help, especially if the facilities are more accessible to residents.
On cross-Straits relations
The Chinese mainland intends to introduce more preferential policies for Taiwan compatriots to ensure they receive the same treatment as mainland people when they work, study, live and conduct business on the mainland. When people on both sides of the Straits have the same development opportunities and are drawn closer to each other, the cross-Straits relationship will grow stronger and make more solid progress. The mainland will continue to adhere to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, oppose “Taiwan independence”, and promote the peaceful development of crossStraits relations and peaceful reunification of the motherland.
On Sino-Russian ties
Beijing and Moscow need to make use of all possible means to keep two-way trade stable, and continue to take steps to increase bilateral trade. Twoway trade exceeded $100 billion last year for the first time despite the downturn in global trade growth, which shows that there is still a great deal of untapped potential in ChinaRussia cooperation. China and Russia are each other’s biggest neighbors and bilateral ties have reached a very high level featuring deepening mutual political trust and growing people-to-people exchanges. The two countries could expand cooperation in areas like trade in commodities, cross border e-commerce, aviation and aerospace.
On a China-Japan-ROK FTA
A comprehensive and mutually beneficial free trade agreement adhering to high standards between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea is in the three countries’ interest. Promoting the construction of a free trade zone among the three nations should be on the agenda at this year’s China-JapanROK leaders’ meeting, especially against the backdrop of protectionism in world trade. Although Japan and the ROK have rather large surpluses in their trade with China, China is still prepared to compete with them in an equal manner to bring more options to customers in the three countries. It is important to draw on each other’s
comparable strengths in this process so that all parties benefit.
On new economies
China will continue enacting prudent regulations to guide the development of the sharing economy and the Internet Plus initiative, despite the growing pains that both are experiencing. The new economies are creating jobs, bringing convenience to people, and driving new investment opportunities in China. No arbitrary regulation or oversight will be placed on new business models, because what is known about new economies is always far less than what is unknown, and they should be given a chance to grow. By adopting prudent regulations, the government has drawn a clear bottom line on public security and safety, while making efforts to build a sound market for all enterprises.