2016 李克强总理答记者问（一）

Full transcript（一）：李克强总理答记者问

傅莹:大家好，今天我们很荣幸地邀请到李克强总理与中外记者见面。今天到场的记者还是比较多的，所以请每位被点到的记者每次就提一个问题，这样大家的机会可以更多一些。现在请李克强总理讲几句话。

李克强:欢迎大家来参加记者会，感谢你们对中国两会的关注和付出的辛劳。刚才主持人说了，时间有限，就单刀直入吧。

路透社记者:近期中国股市和汇市的波动引起了国际投资者的高度关注。请问总理，您认为中国的金融市场目前面临哪些主要问题和挑战？中国政府对金融市场未来的发展和加强监管有什么计划？股市汇市和债券市场将会有哪些重点改革措施？近期的市场波动会不会影响改革的进度？深港通会不会年内推出？谢谢。

Reuters: The recent volatility in China's stock and currency markets have drawn close attention from international investors. Mr. Premier, what do you think are the major problems and challenges facing China's financial markets? What are the Chinese government's plans for future financial markets and strengthening of financing regulation? What major reform steps will be adopted for the development of stock, currency and bond markets in China? Will the recent volatility in those markets hold back China's reform development? And will the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect be launched this year?

李克强:请你问第一个问题，你就把股市汇市等金融市场问题当“当头炮”，不过也可以理解。因为许多金融问题的表现往往早于经济问题的发生。但是金融首要任务还是要支持实体经济的发展，实体经济不发展，是金融最大的风险。去年我们采取了一系列像降息、降准、定向降准等措施，这不是量化宽松，我们始终注意把握货币供应量的松紧适度，主要还是为了降低实体经济融资的成本。所以金融机构还是要着力去支持实体经济，特别是小微企业的健康发展，绝不能脱实向虚。当然金融也有其自身的规律，要防范风险。我更关注的是金融机构本身，去年由于一些行业、企业经营困难，金融机构不良贷款比例是在上升的。但是我们有抵御风险的能力，因为商业银行的资本充足率超过了13%，高于国际标准，拨备覆盖率达到180%以上，高于我们定的150%的标准。而且我们还可以利用市场化的手段降低企业的债务率。企业债务率高是老问题了，因为中国是间接融资为主，但是我们的居民储蓄率也比较高。即便如此，不管市场发生怎样的波动，我们还是要坚定不移地发展多层次的资本市场，而且也可以通过市场化债转股的方式来逐步降低企业的杠杆率。去年由于多重因素的原因，中国股票市场发生了异常波动，有关方面采取综合性稳定市场的举措，实际上是要防范发生系统性的金融风险，这一点是做到了的。下一步怎么办？前两天我们新上任的证监会主席关于具体问题已经作了阐述，因为时间问题我不展开了。不论是股市、债市、汇市这些金融市场，本质上是市场，还是要推进市场化、法治化的改革。当然，政府有监管的责任，现在看，随着形势的变化，需要改革和完善我们的金融监管体系，要实现全覆盖，因为现在金融创新的产品很多，不能留下监管空白；要增强协调性，因为金融市场产品之间关联度比较高，协调要有权威，还要做到权责一致。中央有关部门和地方要分层负责，发现问题要及时处置，防止苗头性的问题蔓延，当然也不能容忍道德风险。总之，还是要瞪大眼睛，练就一双加强监管的“火眼金睛”。借这个机会我还要强调一点，完善和改革金融监管制度是一个过程，当前各有关部门和地方还是要按照已定的职能履行职责，守土有责，绝不能有任何的松懈，而且还要总结经验和教训，这也是保护好金融消费者和投资者的合法权益，否则可就要拿你是问了。谢谢！

Li Keqiang: You've had the first opportunity to ask a question, and you made your questions all about the financial sector. That is understandable, as many economic problems first manifest themselves in financial markets. The top priority of the financial sector is to support the development of the real economy. The truth is, the dysfunctional real economy presents the largest risk to the financial markets. Last year, we took a series of steps, including cutting interest rates, and targeted reductions of banks required reserve ratio; these were not quantitative easing measures. At the same time, we also took care to insure that there is appropriate money supply. All these steps will aim at bringing down the cost of financing and enhance the development of the real economy, so I believe the job of financial institutions is to provide better services to the real economy, especially micro and small businesses. The financial sector also operates according to its own laws, and one should always look out for possible financial risks. Last year, because of the difficulties of companies in some sectors, the nonperforming loan ratio of some financial institutions in China increased, but we are still in the good position to defuse the financial risks because the capital adequacy ratios of commercial banks is still about 13 percent, which is below the international warning line. Those banks’ provision coverage ratio is also about 180 percent, which is above the 150 percent level that we set. We also have other market-based tools at our disposal to help bring down the corporate debt ratio. A very high corporate debt ratio is not new in China, as they still raise finances mostly indirectly in China, but we have a high saving's rate. In regard to volatility in the financial market, we're determined to press ahead with the building of a multi-tiered capital market, and we can also use such a market-oriented format for equity swaps to help bring down the corporate leverage ratio. Last year, due to multiple factors, there were some unusual fluctuations in China's stock markets. Public departments took coordinated steps to stabilize the market and prevent any sustainable financial risk, and our measure achieved the desired result. As to what will the government do the next, with respect to the development of the financial markets in China, a few days ago, our newly appointed chairman of the China Securities Regulation Commission already give elaborate answers to that, so due to time constraints I will not spell them out here. Whether it is stock markets or bond and currency markets, they are after all markets, so we will continue to pursue market-oriented reform and establish a sound, legal framework for the operation of those markets. The government has the regulatory obligation, and we still need to improve our regulatory system in China. First, there needs to be full coverage of financial regulation, as we are seeing an increase in financial innovation products. Second, we need to step up coordination because all these financial markets and products are so highly interconnected, and such coordination must be authoritative. Third, responsibility must be matched with power; governments, departments and local authorities must perform their assigned possibilities conscientiously and promptly handle any possible latent risk, and also guard against moral hazards. Basically, we must sharpen our vision to exercise the most-effective regulation. Here, I want to emphasize that it will be a process for us to put in place a fully ledged financial regulatory regime, and in this process the various government departments and local authorities must continue to do a diligent job in performing their assigned responsibilities. Well, it is important, but we watch out for possible risks to ensure that the lawful rights and interests of investors and consumers will be upheld. I want to remind the various departments and local authorities that they must to do their job properly, otherwise they will be held accountable. Thank you.

新华社记者:谢谢主持人。总理你好，我的问题也和经济有关。开年以来，世界经济金融形势很不稳定，中国也面临较大的下行压力，有人担忧中国经济会一路下滑，甚至会击穿6.5%这条线，不仅会影响自身的全面发展和小康社会建设，也会拖累世界经济，请问您怎么看？谢谢。

Xinhua News Agency: Some people are worried that China's growth might fail to reach the target or even below 6.5 percent. What's your view?

李克强:我怎么记得去年新华社记者提问不光代表本身，还打了其他头衔，今年只有一个了，你可是问了一个大问题。不过你让我同意说中国经济完不成已经确定的主要经济目标，那是不可能的。的确，世界经济现在复苏乏力，中国经济又深度地融入世界经济，会受到影响和冲击。中国经济本身也在转型，一些长期积累的矛盾在凸显，所以说下行的压力确实在持续加大。有一个很明显的特征，就是地区和行业的走势分化。我记得前不久看有外媒报道，说是到中国的某个重化工企业，感到经济不景气，而到科技城看，那里的场面火爆，好像经济还在两位数增长，这跟我们下去调研的一些感受是类似的。实质上它说明了中国经济是困难和希望并存，如果从底盘和大势来看，希望大于困难。我们对中国经济长期向好充满信心，这种信心并不是凭空的，因为我们坚信只要坚持改革开放，中国的经济就不会“硬着陆”。因为中国市场还有很大的潜力，人民群众可以说有无穷的创造力，而我们政府确实还管了一些不该管的、束缚生产力发展的事情。同时，在保障公平竞争环境的监管方面又没有完全到位。所以通过推进改革，就可以激发市场更大的活力、人民群众更大的创造力，把亿万群众的勤劳和智慧的空间拓展开来，就可以顶住中国经济下行的压力。像我们正在推进的简政、减税，这些供给侧结构性改革都会释放市场的活力。同时，中国新的动能正在生成，而且超出我们的预期。这几年中国经济增速是在放缓，但是我们还是实现了比较充分的就业，去年新增城镇就业1300多万人，而且今年一二月份我们的服务业又增长了8.1%，其中包括研发等高技术领域，这也带动了传统动能的改造。我们的传统动能还有很大的潜力，因为我们正处在工业化、城镇化的推进过程当中，产业升级有空间，新型城镇化是最大的内需，特别是中西部地区，还有很多有效投资需求。我们把培育新动能和改造提升传统动能结合起来，形成中国经济的“双引擎”，就会闯过困难的关口，跃上希望的高原。当然，世界经济走势还不确定，不稳定的因素也在增加，但是我们有政策储备。去年是世界经济6年来增速最低，我们还是实现了7%左右的增长目标，并没有用“大水漫灌”式的强刺激，而是选择了一条更为艰难但可持续的路，就是推进结构性改革。中国经济在发展过程当中，还会有小幅的、短期的波动，但是如果经济运行滑出合理区间，我们有创新宏观调控的手段，可以稳定中国经济的运行。我们所经过的压力测试也可以说是宝贵的经验。我相信，在以习近平同志为总书记的党中央坚强领导下，落实好新发展理念，全国人民同心协力，我们完全可以实现“十三五”良好开局，这给世界带来的会是一股暖风。谢谢。

LiKeqiang: You raised a big question. But it is impossible for me to agree that China cannot achieve the growth target this year. The weak world recovery has taken its toll on the Chinese economy, which is deeply engaged in the world economy. China's economic transition is under way and its deep-rooted problems are emerging. The downward pressure indeed is increasing. But one prominent feature is greater divergence among regions and industries. The other day I read a foreign media report saying that one visit to a heavy industry left the impression of depression, while the next stop to a technology park left the impression that the economy is growing at a double-digit rate. This is in line with my last year's field trip conclusion: hope and challenges coexist. If we look at the fundamental and big trend, hope outweighs challenges. We are fully confident about China's long-term growth prospects. This confidence is not groundless, because we believe that there will not be a hard landing as long as we stick to the reform path. There is still huge potential for China's markets; the general public has unlimited creativity. The government has overreached its aims in many aspects of economy, which hindered the gains of productivity; we are also not doing a sufficient job in ensuring a level playing ground. I believe through reform we can stimulate more vitality in the market, and greater vigor of the people. The wisdom and hard work of our people, if well tapped, is enough to withstand downward pressures. The deregulation and tax cuts of the past few years will unleash the vitality of the market. Meanwhile, new forces of economic growth drivers are taking shape in a way that beats expectations. Despite the slowdown over the past few years, the employment condition is not bad. Last year we created more than 13 million jobs in the urban area. In the first two months of this year, the service sector grew 8.1 percent. Among them, there is high-tech research development, which is giving a push to the upgrade of traditional industries, an area where there is so much work we can do. We are in the midst of pushing ahead with deindustrialization and urbanization. New-style urbanization is the large domestic demand, especially in central and western regions, where there is enormous room for effective investment. If we combine the fostering of new drivers and upgrading of old engines and make them the double-engines of the Chinese economy, it will go through the pass of difficulties and leap to the plateau of hope. Under uncertain world economic prospects, instability is adding. But we have ample reserves of policy instruments. Last year, despite a six-year low in world growth, we managed to reach our previous target. We realized that in the absence of all-out stimulus measures, instead we have chosen the path of structural reform, which is tough but sustainable. There will be small and short-term volatility down the road, but in case there is any sign that the economy will slide beyond an appropriate range, we have the reserves of innovative macro-adjustment measures to stabilize expectations. The stress test we have been through, in another way, is a precious experience. I believe that under the leadership of the CPC central committee with Xi Jinping as general secretary, as long as the new vision we have deployed unites the people's efforts, we will be able to deliver a good start to the 13th five-year plan, which will bring a warm breeze to the world.

主持人告诉我，刚才路透社记者提问的时候问到深港通什么时候开通。我补充回答一下。我们已经开通了沪港通，积累了比较丰富的经验，而且实践表明，对两地都有好处。现在内地和香港正在密切磋商，力争今年开通深港通。谢谢。

Reuters: Will the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect be launched within this year?

LiKeqiang: I just want to add one thing to part of the question raised by the Reuters journalist regarding when the Shenzhen-Hong Kong stock connect will be launched. We have already launched the Shanghai-Hong Kong stock connect and a lot of experience has already been gained from its operation. That stock exchange connection has brought real benefits to both cities. Currently, authorities in the mainland and in Hong Kong are in intensive discussions, and we will work toward the launch of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong stock connect within this year.