各位代表！

Fellow Deputies,

过去五年的成就和进步，来之不易。这是在改革开放多年来奠定的基础上取得的，是以胡锦涛同志为总书记的党中央驾驭全局、正确领导的结果，是全国各族人民奋发进取、共同努力的结果，也是与广大海外侨胞、国际友人的支持和帮助分不开的。在战胜种种严重困难和挑战、完成各项重大任务中，充分表现了中国人民不畏艰险、一往无前的决心、勇气和意志。我代表国务院，向全国各族人民，向各民主党派、各人民团体和各界人士，表示诚挚的感谢！向香港特别行政区同胞、澳门特别行政区同胞和台湾同胞，以及广大侨胞，表示诚挚的感谢！向世界各国政府、国际组织和国际友人对中国现代化事业的理解和支持，表示诚挚的感谢！

The achievements of the past five years have not come easily. They were built on a foundation laid through many years of reform and opening up, and are attributable to the correct leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary, which has effectively managed the overall situation. Credit also goes to the hard work and concerted effort of the people of all the ethnic groups in China, and to the support and assistance of overseas Chinese nationals and foreign friends. Displaying indomitable determination, courage and will, the Chinese people have overcome untold difficulties and challenges and accomplished major tasks. On behalf of the State Council, I would like to sincerely thank the people of all the ethnic groups, the democratic parties, the people's organizations and people from all sectors of society. I would like to express my sincere thanks to our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and in Taiwan, as well as overseas Chinese nationals. I would like to thank governments of other countries, international organizations and foreign friends of China around the world for their understanding of and support for China's modernization.

二、2008年主要任务

II. Major Tasks for 2008

今年是全面贯彻党的十七大精神的第一年，改革发展任务繁重而艰巨，做好政府工作意义重大。

This is the first year for comprehensively implementing the guiding principles set out at the Seventeenth CPC National Congress. We face arduous tasks in reform and development, and it is very important for us to successfully carry out the work of the government.

政府工作的基本思路和主要任务是：高举中国特色社会主义伟大旗帜，以邓小平理论和“三个代表”重要思想为指导，深入贯彻落实科学发展观，更加重视加强和改善宏观调控，更加重视推进改革开放和自主创新，更加重视调整经济结构和提高发展质量，更加重视节约资源和保护环境，更加重视改善民生和促进社会和谐，推进社会主义经济建设、政治建设、文化建设、社会建设，加快全面建设小康社会进程。

The basic guidelines and major tasks for the government's work are as follows: we must hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics; take Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents as our guide; fully apply the Scientific Outlook on Development; attach greater importance to improving macroeconomic regulation, promoting reform, opening up and independent innovation, adjusting the economic structure and improving the quality of development, conserving resources and protecting the environment, and improving people's lives and promoting social harmony; promote socialist economic, political, cultural and social development; and accelerate the process of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

今年国民经济和社会发展的预期目标是：在优化结构、提高效益、降低消耗、保护环境的基础上，国内生产总值增长8%左右；居民消费价格总水平涨幅控制在4.8%左右；城镇新增就业1000万人，城镇登记失业率控制在4.5%左右；国际收支状况有所改善。

We have set the following targets for economic and social development in 2008: on the basis of improving the economic structure, productivity, energy efficiency and environmental protection, the GDP should grow by about 8%, and the rise in the CPI should be held at around 4.8%. Ten million jobs should be created in urban areas, and the rate of registered urban unemployment should be kept at around 4.5%. Some improvement should be made in the balance of payments.

这里要着重说明，提出国内生产总值增长8%左右，主要是综合考虑了国内和国际多种因素，着眼于保持经济平稳较快发展，引导各方面把主要精力和工作重点放在转变发展方式、深化改革、加快社会建设上，防止片面追求和盲目攀比经济增长速度，实现经济社会又好又快发展。提出居民消费价格总水平涨幅控制在4.8%左右，主要是由于去年价格上涨对今年价格的翘尾影响较大，推动价格上涨的因素较多，控制物价上涨的难度加大；同时，又要考虑到居民、企业和社会各方面承受能力，努力避免物价涨幅过大。

It is important to note here that in setting the GDP growth target at around 8% for 2008, we have taken into account a variety of domestic and international factors. Our goal is to maintain both steady and fast economic growth, and guide all sectors of society to concentrate on changing the pattern of development, deepening reform and accelerating social development. The different regions should not just seek faster growth or compete with each other to have the highest growth rate. We should promote both sound and fast economic and social development. The major considerations in setting the target for keeping the CPI this year at around 4.8% are as follows: last year's price increases are still exerting a fairly strong influence and quite a few factors are creating inflationary pressure, making it difficult to bring price increases under control. At the same time, we have to take into consideration the ability of individuals, enterprises and all sectors of society to tolerate price increases and try our best to avoid sharp price increases.

实现经济社会发展的目标和任务，需要把握以下原则：坚持稳中求进，促进经济平稳较快发展；坚持好字优先，加快转变经济发展方式；坚持改革开放，注重推进制度建设和创新；坚持以人为本，加快以改善民生为重点的社会建设。今年经济工作，要把防止经济增长由偏快转为过热、防止价格由结构性上涨演变为明显通货膨胀作为宏观调控的首要任务；鉴于当前国内外经济形势发展的不确定因素较多，要密切跟踪分析新情况新问题，审时度势，从实际出发，及时灵活地采取相应对策，正确把握宏观调控的节奏、重点和力度，保持经济平稳较快发展，避免出现大的起落。

To attain the targets and accomplish the tasks for this year's economic and social development, we must adhere to the following principles: we must make progress while maintaining stability and aim for fast yet steady economic development. We must give priority to the quality rather than speed of development and accelerate improvement in the pattern of economic development. We must pursue reform and opening up and attach great importance to promoting institutional improvements and innovations. We must put people first and accelerate social development, with the focus on improving people's lives. The primary task for macroeconomic regulation this year is to prevent fast economic growth from becoming overheated growth and keep structural price increases from turning into significant inflation. There are quite a few uncertainties in the current economic situation at home and abroad, so we need to keep close track of new developments and problems, properly size up situations and take prompt and flexible measures to respond to them while keeping our feet firmly rooted in reality. We need to maintain the appropriate pace, focus and intensity of macroeconomic regulation to sustain steady and fast economic development and avoid drastic fluctuations in the economy.

今年要着重抓好以下九个方面工作：

We need to concentrate on the following nine tasks this year:

（一）搞好宏观调控，保持经济平稳较快发展

1. Improving macroeconomic regulation to maintain fast yet steady economic development.

根据国内外经济形势和宏观调控任务的要求，今年要实行稳健的财政政策和从紧的货币政策。

In view of the current domestic and international economic situation we need to follow a prudent fiscal policy and a tight monetary policy this year to accomplish the tasks for macroeconomic regulation.

继续实行稳健的财政政策，就是要保持财政政策的连续性和稳定性，充分发挥财政促进结构调整和协调发展的重要作用，增加对薄弱环节、改善民生、深化改革等方面的支出；同时，进一步减少财政赤字和长期建设国债。今年，中央财政赤字预算拟安排1800亿元，比去年预算赤字减少650亿元；拟安排国债投资300亿元，比去年减少200亿元；增加中央预算内经常性建设投资，中央建设投资总计为1521亿元。继续调整财政支出和政府投资结构，较大幅度地增加“三农”、社会保障、医疗卫生、教育、文化、节能减排和廉租住房建设等方面支出。要抓好增收节支，依法加强税收征管，规范非税收入管理，控制一般性支出。改革政府投资管理方式，提高投资使用效益。

Continuing to follow a prudent fiscal policy means that we must ensure the continuity and consistency of fiscal policy, get public finance to fully play its important role in promoting structural adjustment and balanced development, and increase expenditures to shore up weak links, improve people's lives and deepen reform. In addition, we need to further reduce the budget deficit and the volume of long-term development treasury bonds. The deficit for the central government budget this year is set at 180 billion yuan, 65 billion yuan less than last year. We plan to issue 30 billion yuan of treasury bonds for investment, 20 billion yuan less than last year, and increase allocations from the central government budget for general development, bringing total central government investment in development projects up to 152.1 billion yuan. We will continue to adjust the structure of government spending and investment by greatly increasing spending on agriculture, rural areas and farmers, the social safety net, medical and health care, education, culture, energy conservation and emissions reduction, and construction of low-rent housing. We will work hard to increase revenue and reduce expenditures, tighten tax collection and management in accordance with the law, improve management of non-tax revenue, and control regular expenditures. We need to reform the management of government investment to improve the performance of investments.

合理安排财政超收收入。去年全国财政比年度预算超收7239亿元，其中中央财政超收4168亿元。超预算收入使用的原则是：集中财力办关系民生和制度性建设方面的事，调整结构，加强薄弱环节。依法增加地方两税返还和一般性转移支付的支出；增加农林水、教育、文化和科技方面支出；增加社会保障、医疗卫生、司法保障和廉租住房建设支出；增加节能减排和环境保护支出；解决农村义务教育债务和国有粮食企业财务挂账等历史遗留问题支出。同时，削减财政赤字450亿元；拟增加中央预算稳定调节基金1032亿元。

Government revenue surplus must be used wisely. Total government revenue exceeded the targeted figure by more than 723.9 billion yuan last year, including 416.8 billion yuan in the central government budget. Surplus revenue should be concentrated on solving problems that have a direct bearing on people's lives, making institutional and structural improvements and strengthening weak links. Spending on the following items will be increased in accordance with the law: rebates on the consumption tax and value-added tax and general transfer payments to local governments; agriculture, forestry, water conservancy projects, education, culture, science, the social safety net, medical and health care, legal aid, construction of low-rent housing, energy conservation, emissions reduction and environmental protection; and resolution of debts for rural compulsory education, debts of state-owned grain enterprises and other long-overdue payments. In addition, the budget deficit should be reduced by 45 billion yuan and the central budget stability and regulation fund should be increased by 103.2 billion yuan.

实行从紧的货币政策，主要是考虑当前固定资产投资反弹压力较大，货币信贷投放仍然偏多，流动性过剩矛盾尚未缓解，价格上涨压力明显，需要加强金融调控，控制货币供应量和信贷过快增长。一要综合运用公开市场操作、存款准备金率等方式，加大对冲流动性力度；合理发挥利率杠杆调节作用；完善人民币汇率形成机制，增强汇率弹性。二要着力优化信贷结构，严格执行贷款条件，有保有压。控制中长期贷款增长，特别是对高耗能、高排放企业和产能过剩行业的贷款；创新和改进银行信贷服务，完善担保、贴息等制度，加大对“三农”、服务业、中小企业、自主创新、节能环保、区域协调发展等方面的贷款支持。三要深化外汇管理体制改革。完善结售汇制度，加强跨境资本流动监管，稳步推进资本项目可兑换。拓展外汇储备使用渠道和方式。同时，采取综合措施，努力改善国际收支状况。

The decision to follow a tight monetary policy was based on the following considerations: the strong possibility of a resurgence in fixed asset investment, continued excessive supplies of money and credit, the still-unsolved problem of excess liquidity, and considerable inflationary pressure. For these reasons, we must improve financial regulation to control the excessively rapid growth in the supplies of money and credit.

First, we will step up efforts to curb excess liquidity by using a combination of open market operations and the required deposit reserve ratio. We will make appropriate use of the lever of interest rates. We will improve the RMB exchange rate regime to make the exchange rate more flexible.

Second, with the focus on improving the credit structure, we will strictly follow requirements for granting loans and guarantee some loans while restricting others. We will limit the increase in long- and medium-term loans, particularly to enterprises that are energy intensive or highly polluting and enterprises in industries with excess production capacity. We will make innovations and improvements in bank credit services, improve the systems of guarantees and interest discounts, and increase credit support for agriculture, rural areas, farmers, service industries, small and medium-sized enterprises, independent innovation, energy conservation, environmental protection, and balancing regional development.

Third, we will deepen reform of the foreign exchange administration system. We will improve the system for foreign exchange settlements and sales and payments in foreign exchange, tighten oversight on the flow of capital across borders, and move steadily toward making the RMB convertible for capital accounts. We will develop new channels and means for using foreign exchange reserves. Comprehensive measures will be adopted to improve the balance of payments.

防止价格总水平过快上涨，是今年宏观调控的重大任务。必须从增加有效供给和抑制不合理需求两方面采取有力措施。一要大力发展生产，特别要加强粮食、食用植物油、肉类等基本生活必需品和其他紧缺商品生产，认真落实支持发展生产的政策措施，搞好产运销衔接。二要严格控制工业用粮和粮食出口。坚决制止玉米深加工能力盲目扩张，违规在建项目必须停建。三要加快健全储备体系，改进和完善储备调节和进出口调节方式，适当增加国内紧缺重要消费品进口。四要把握好政府调价的时机和力度，必须调整的资源性产品价格和公共服务收费也要从严控制，防止出现轮番涨价。五要健全大宗农产品、初级产品供求和价格变动的监测预警制度，做好市场供应和价格应急预案。六要加强市场和价格监管，抓好教育收费、医药价格、农资价格及涉农收费的监督检查。依法打击串通涨价、囤积居奇、哄抬物价等违法违规行为。七要及时完善和落实对低收入群众的补助办法，特别要增加对生活困难群众和家庭经济困难学生的补贴，确保他们基本生活水平不因物价上涨而下降。八要遏制生产资料尤其是农业生产资料价格过快上涨。九要坚持实行“米袋子”省长负责制和“菜篮子”市长负责制。物价问题与人民生活密切相关，各级政府一定要把稳定市场物价放在更加重要的位置。现在，国家粮食库存充裕，主要工业消费品供大于求，只要切实加强领导，认真落实各项政策措施，上下共同努力，就一定能够保证市场供应和价格基本稳定。

One major task for macroeconomic regulation this year is to prevent the overall price level from rising rapidly. To fulfill this task, we must take powerful measures to increase effective supply while curbing excessive demand.

First, we must expand production, especially the production of the basic necessities of life such as grain, vegetable oil and meat as well as other commodities in short supply. We must also earnestly implement policies and measures designed to support production and ensure coordination in the production, transport and sale of products.

Second, we must strictly control industrial use of grain and grain exports. The reckless expansion of the capacity for intensive corn processing and construction work on such projects that violate regulations must be stopped.

Third, we need to speed up improvement of the reserve system, improve methods for adjusting reserves and import and export volumes, and appropriately increase imports of major consumer goods that are in short supply on the domestic market.

Fourth, we need to ensure that the timing and the size of government adjustments to prices are appropriate, and necessary adjustment of prices of resource products and public services should also be strictly controlled to prevent waves of price increases.

Fifth, we need to improve the early-warning system to monitor supply and demand and price changes of principal agricultural products and primary products, and put in place a plan for responding to drastic changes in market supply and demand and prices.

Sixth, we must strengthen market and price oversight and pay close attention to the oversight and inspection of prices and charges related to education, medical care, drugs, agricultural supplies, agriculture, rural areas and farmers. Illegal activities such as colluding or hoarding to drive up prices will be punished in accordance with the law.

Seventh, we need to promptly improve and implement measures to aid the low-income sector of the population. In particular, we need to increase subsidies to poor people and students from poor families to ensure that their basic living standards do not drop because of price increases.

Eighth, we must work to make sure that the prices of the means of production, particularly agricultural supplies, do not rise rapidly.

Ninth, we will continue to implement the system of provincial governors assuming responsibility for the "rice bag" (grain supply) program and city mayors for the "vegetable basket" (non-staple food supply) program.

Governments at all levels must give high priority to keeping prices stable because price stability has a direct bearing on the quality of people's lives. The country currently has an adequate stock of grain, and the supply of major manufactured consumer goods exceeds demand. We can ensure adequate supply in the market and basic price stability as long as governments at all levels work to improve their leadership, diligently implement all policies and measures, and mount a concerted effort from the highest to the lowest level.

近期发生的严重低温雨雪冰冻灾害，给经济造成重大损失，给群众生活带来很大困难。要继续做好灾后重建工作，把灾害损失减少到最低程度。要以电网恢复重建为重点抓紧修复基础设施，尽快恢复农业生产，加强煤电油运协调工作，妥善安排受灾地区群众生活。同时，要从这次特大自然灾害中，认真总结经验教训。加强电力、交通、通信等基础设施建设，提高抗灾和保障能力；加强应急体系和机制建设，提高预防和处置突发事件能力；加强对现代条件下自然灾害特点和规律的研究，提高防灾减灾能力。

The recent disaster resulting from snow and ice storms caused significant losses to China's economy and made life very difficult for disaster victims. We will continue the work of repairing the damage and minimizing losses from the disaster. Affected infrastructure will be promptly repaired, with the focus on restoring power grids. Agricultural production will be resumed as soon as possible. We will closely coordinate supplies of coal, electricity, petroleum and transportation to help disaster victims get back on their feet. In addition, we will learn from this large-scale natural disaster. We must accelerate development of infrastructure, including electricity, transportation and communications, to improve its capacity to resist disasters and maintain normal operations. We must improve the systems and mechanisms for responding to disasters to increase our ability to prevent and handle emergencies. We must step up research to better understand the features and patterns of natural disasters under modern conditions and improve our ability to prevent and mitigate them.