十三屆全國人大二次會議15日上午在人民大會堂舉行記者會，國務院總理李克強應大會發言人張業遂的邀請會見中外記者，并回答記者提問。

路透社記者：去年中國采取了一系列措施放松貨幣條件，還加大了減稅降費力度，今年中國表示將進一步放寬貨幣條件，進一步減稅降費，還要加大基礎設施投資。請問，中國經濟面臨的問題是否比之前預想得更為嚴重？如果經濟放緩繼續持續下去，中國是否會考慮采取更加有力的舉措，包括取消房地產限制和降低基準利率等？
Reuters: Last year China took a number of measures to ease monetary conditions. China also cut taxes and fees. This year China is promising more monetary easing, more tax cuts and more infrastructure spending. Are China’s economic problems bigger than previously thought? And if the economic slowdown doesn’t stop, would China consider taking more aggressive measures such as lifting property curbs and cutting benchmark interest rates?

李克強：這位記者朋友喜歡單刀直入，那我也開誠布公。中國經濟確實遇到了新的下行壓力，現在世界經濟都在放緩，就在這一個多月期間，幾大國際權威機構都在調低世界經濟增長的預期。中國適度調低經濟增長預期目標，用的是區間調控的方式，既和去年經濟增速相銜接，也表明我們不會讓經濟運行滑出合理區間，可以說給市場發出的是穩定的信號。
Premier Li: You went straight to the point in your question and I will not beat about the bush. It is true that China’s economy has encountered new downward pressure against a larger backdrop of slower global economic growth. In the past month or so, several major international organizations have adjusted downward their forecast for global growth this year. We have adjusted downward, as appropriate, our projected economic growth target for 2019, and set it at a target range. This is compatible with the GDP growth rate we achieved last year. It is also consistent with our determination to prevent major economic indicators from sliding out of the proper range. By this way, we have sent a message of stability to the market.

去年，在以習近平同志為核心的黨中央堅強領導下，以習近平新時代中國特色社會主義思想為指導，全國上下奮力拼搏，在推進供給側結構性改革的進程中，面對國際貿易保護主義抬頭的背景，中國經濟實現6.6%的增速，的確是來之不易。國內生產總值總量達到90萬億元，在這個基礎上，今年預計經濟增長6%至6.5%，這是高基數、大總量上的增長，可以說本身就是進。
Last year, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core and guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, people across China made united efforts to advance the supply-side structural reforms, and we achieved a 6.6 percent GDP growth, which was no mean feat. Against the backdrop of growing trade protectionism in the international environment, China’s GDP aggregate reached 90 trillion RMB yuan. Our projected target for GDP growth this year is 6-6.5 percent. It will be a growth on top of a very large base figure. Keeping steady growth of China’s economy in itself is important progress.

當然，面對新的下行壓力，要有有力舉措。一種辦法是搞量化寬松，超發貨幣、大幅度提高赤字率，搞所謂“大水漫灌”，一時可能有效，但蘿卜快了不洗泥，會帶來后遺癥，所以不可取。我們還是要堅持通過激發市場活力，來頂住下行壓力。前些年，我們也遇到下行壓力，采取的就是激發市場活力的措施，因為市場活力增強了，發展的動力必然增強。
We must take strong measures to cope with the current downward economic pressure. One possible option is to resort to quantitative easing, including excessive money supply and a much higher deficit-to-GDP ratio, flooding the economy with liquidity. Such an indiscriminate and expedient approach might work in the short run, but may also lead to future problems. Hence, it is not a viable option. Our choice is to energize market players to counter the downward pressure. We encountered economic downturn in the past several years, and the measures we took were aimed at boosting the vitality of the market, which generated stronger dynamism for development.

現在中國市場主體已經超過1億戶，把他們的活力激發出來，這個力量是難以估量的。我們還是要政貴有恒，繼續推進減稅降費、簡政、培育新動能、放寬市場準入、營造公平競爭環境等一系列措施，為市場松綁，為企業騰位，為百姓解憂。把他們的創造力釋放出來，我們一定能夠保持經濟運行在合理區間，而且推動高質量發展。
China now has over 100 million market entities. When their vitality is fully unleashed, the energies that could be created would be incalculable. We must keep our policies stable and ensure their continuity. We will continue to cut taxes and fees, streamline administration, foster new drivers of growth, broaden market access and level the playing field for all market players. In this way, we will be able to lift the curbs on the market, free up space for companies and resolve concerns for our people. We will generate tremendous creativity in this process. And this will also put us in a strong position to keep major economic indicators within a proper range and achieve high-quality development.

當然，今年不確定因素不少，我們還要有更多的應對準備，留有政策空間。比如我們今年提高赤字率0.2個百分點，達到2.8%，沒有超過國際上所謂3%的警戒線。我們還可以運用像存款準備金率、利率等數量型或價格型工具，這不是放松銀根，而是讓實體經濟更有效地得到支持。不管發生什么樣的新情況，我們都會立足當前、著眼長遠，保持中國經濟穩定，保持中國經濟長期向好趨勢不變，這都是很重要的。中國經濟會始終成為世界經濟的一個重要“穩定之錨”。
We also need to take strong measures to cope with growing uncertainties that we face this year. We have policies in reserve for that purpose. For example, we raised the deficit ratio for this year by 0.2 percentage point to 2.8 percent, which is below the international warning line of 3 percent. In addition, we can also resort to quantitative or pricing tools like required reserve ratios and interest rates. We are not going for monetary easing, but trying to provide effective support to the real economy. Facing new circumstances, we will stay firmly grounded in China’s realities and take a long-term view. We will do our best to keep China’s economic growth stable and maintain the sound momentum of the economic development for the long run. China’s economy will remain an anchor of stability for the global economy.

《財新周刊》記者：中國政府出臺了一系列關于減稅降費的舉措，不少企業家反映企業稅收依然很重，今年政府出臺了更大規模的減稅降費，請問您認為企業能得到實惠嗎？財政可持續嗎？
Cai Xin: The Chinese government took a series of steps to reduce taxes and fees. However, some business people still feel that the tax burden on companies is quite heavy. This year the government plans to implement deeper tax and fee cuts. I would like to ask if you think real benefits can be truly delivered to companies, and is our country’s public finance sustainable?

李克強：近幾年我們利用營改增等，平均每年給企業減稅降費一萬億元，三年三萬億元。應該說，我們減稅的規模是比較大的。今年下決心要進行更大規模的減稅降費，把增值稅和基本養老保險單位繳費率降下來，減稅降費紅利近兩萬億元。這可以說是應對當前經濟下行壓力的一個十分重要的關鍵性舉措。
Premier Li: In the past several years, we worked to replace business tax with value-added tax. For the past three years, we cut taxes by three trillion yuan, or one trillion on an average annual basis. This is fairly large-scale tax reduction. This year we will implement larger-scale tax and fee cuts. We will make reductions in the VAT and employers’ contributions to the basic pension insurance scheme. This will deliver a dividend of as much as two trillion yuan to companies. It is an important measure for countering the downward pressure.

這樣做有利于公平，因為按照規則，各類所有制企業普遍能從減稅降費中受惠，而且政策效率很高，一竿子插到底，直達市場主體。4月1日就要減增值稅，5月1日就要降社保費率，全面推開。我看還沒有其他辦法比這種辦法給企業帶來的感受更公平、更有效。
This is also a fair and efficient policy option. The same rules will be enforced and companies under all types of ownership will stand to benefit as equals. The policy will reach all market players directly. The plan is to cut VAT rates starting from 1 April, and the social insurance contribution rate from 1 May. No other way may work as fairly and efficiently as this one for companies.

今年更大規模的減稅降費是一項重大改革和重要抉擇。之前我們反復測算，有多種方案，一種就是今后幾年每年把增值稅率降一個百分點，但在當前情況下企業可能感受不深。所以我們下決心把占增值稅總量近60%的制造業等行業的增值稅率降低3個百分點，把建筑業等部分行業降1個百分點，其他所有行業也確保只減不增。由于稅制的原因，可能在推進過程當中有些行業抵扣少了，稅收會有增加，我們也做了認真的準備，對他們加大抵扣的力度，用打補丁的辦法，并對所有的中小微企業實行普惠性減稅，以此確保所有行業稅負只減不增。對基本養老保險單位繳費率，我們還明確，可以從原規定的20%降到16%。
Our larger-scale tax and fee cuts are a very important reform measure and a crucial decision. Before we took this decision, we did thorough calculations. In the past, there were several different plans under consideration. For example, one of the plans was to cut the VAT rates by just one percentage point each year in the following several years. But that may not bring as many benefits to companies as the current plan. Under the current plan, the VAT rate for the manufacturing sector will be cut by three percentage points. The manufacturing sector accounts for close to 60 percent of all VAT. For construction and related sectors, the VAT rate will be cut by one percent point. For other industries, we will also work to ensure that the tax burden on companies will only go down, not up. Due to the setup of the tax code, with fewer deductions, the tax payments of some sectors may somewhat increase. To address this problem, we will make further tax deductions. In this process, the tax burden on all micro, small and medium-sized companies will be significantly eased. All in all, as I said before, taxes levied on companies will only come down instead of going up. Moreover, employers’ contributions to the basic pension insurance scheme will be cut from 20 percent to 16 percent.

減稅是要減收的。我們今年安排財政支出和GDP增長同步，確保民生重點領域、三大攻堅戰支出只增不減。那么人們會問錢從哪里來？赤字只提高了0.2個百分點，填不上這個窟窿怎么辦？我們的辦法是，政府要過緊日子，不僅要壓縮政府一般性支出，而且增加特定國有金融機構和央企上繳利潤、進入國庫，并把長期沉淀的財政資金收回。通過這些舉措，我們籌集了1萬億元資金。我們還要求地方政府也要挖潛，把自己的功課做足。對中西部地區，我們將給予適當的轉移支付支持。大規模減稅降費，是要動政府的存量利益，要割自己的肉。所以我說這是一項刀刃向內、壯士斷腕的改革。
Cutting taxes means smaller fiscal revenues. This year, our fiscal spending will grow in tandem with the GDP growth rate. We also need to ensure that government spending in key areas related to people’s lives and in fighting the three critical battles will increase. Then it begs the question: where does the money come from? Only increasing the budget deficit ratio by 0.2 percent point is not enough to make up for the shortfall. The answer is: the government will tighten its belt and cut back on its general expenditures. At the same time, certain state-owned financial institutions and enterprises directly under the central government will be asked to turn in a larger share of their profits to the state coffers. The central government will also take back those fiscal funds that have long stayed unused. Through these means, we have put together one trillion yuan. Local governments also need to do their homework and contribute, but for localities in the central and western regions, transfer payments from the central government will be made. Digging into the government’s own revenue stock for slashing taxes and fees would be like the government turning the blade of a knife to itself, which requires significant self-sacrifice. That is why I said this is a key reform that requires exceptional courage and determination.

剛才記者問，這樣做財政可持續嗎？我們也是認真算過賬的。我們是給制造業等基礎行業、給帶動就業面最大的中小企業明顯減稅，這實際上是“放水養魚”、培育財源。我們前幾年在營改增過程中起先也是財政減收的，但后來稅基擴大了，財政收入增長了。現在看，我們還要調整國民收入分配結構，這也是一項改革。從趨勢看，應該給實體經濟、給企業讓利，讓他們在國民收入分配蛋糕中的比例更大，這樣能更多帶動就業，讓就業人群增加收入。為此，政府就要過緊日子，就要讓利，政府的存量利益也要動，得罪人也要動，讓利于企業，讓利于民，這樣財政才更可持續，反過來講可能就要打問號了。我們這樣做，不是在預支未來，恰恰是在培育未來。
You asked if our public finance is sustainable. Let me tell you that the government has done its due diligence. We are going to cut VAT rates for the manufacturing and other basic sectors. And we are going to make things much easier for small and medium-sized companies, the largest providers of jobs in our country. They will see their taxes meaningfully reduced. This will create a more enabling environment for companies, and also help to expand our tax sources. When we started with the VAT reform several years ago, government revenue also declined. However, it didn’t take long for it to increase again, as the tax base expanded. This is also a reform that will make adjustments to the structure of our national income distribution. By expanding the share of companies therein, we will create more jobs and put more money in our people’s pockets. To do this, the government must live on a tight budget, and let companies benefit more. We must dig into the government’s own pockets, even if this involves offending people. This is actually helpful for keeping our public finance sustainable. As a matter of fact, our ability to keep China’s public finance sustainable may be called into question if the above measures are not taken. Such measures are not taking an overdraft on our future, but nurturing a better tomorrow.

現在可以說是真金白銀已經備好了，有關部門和各級政府都要去落實，決不能讓政策“打白條”，更不允許變換花樣亂收費來沖擊減稅降費的成效，要讓企業、讓市場主體切實感受到更大規模減稅降費的實實在在效果。
So, these heavyweight policies and measures are all set, relevant departments and governments at all levels must fully deliver those policies and measures. There must be no lip service. We will let market players test their actual effects and there must be no arbitrary charges levied in disguised forms. Our end goal is to deliver concrete benefits to companies and market entities.

韓國《東亞日報》記者：朝美領導人河內會晤談崩之后，外界認為朝鮮有可能正在準備恢復發射火箭，朝鮮半島局勢下一步發展還是存在不確定性，中方對此如何看？中方作為和朝鮮保持戰略性溝通和高層來往的鄰邦，為了勸和促談，化解朝美之間的分歧，目前在發揮什么樣的建設性作用？
The Dong-A Ilbo: The Hanoi summit between the DPRK and the United States broke down and after that there are analyses arguing that there is a possibility for the DPRK preparing for resuming rocket launch. And there are still uncertainties on the Korean Peninsula situation. How does the Chinese side see the kind of situation on the Peninsula? Another question is, China has stayed in strategic communication and exchanged high-level visits with the DPRK and has been promoting dialogue between the DPRK and the United States and working to ease differences between the two parties. What constructive role is China playing in this respect?

李克強：半島問題可以說是錯綜復雜、由來已久，解決起來不可能一蹴而就。一段時間以來，大家都比較關注朝美領導人河內會晤。會晤后，雙方都表示要繼續接觸。我認為，接觸總比不接觸好。我們還是要保持耐心，要抓住機遇，特別是當前顯現出的積極因素，推動對話，特別是朝美對話，實現大家都希望得到的成果。中國始終堅持半島無核化，希望保持半島的和平穩定，這個立場從來沒有改變過。解決好半島問題，不僅對北南雙方，對地區、對世界都有利。
Premier Li: The Korean Peninsula issue is a long-standing and complicated one. It cannot be resolved overnight. Much attention has been paid to the Hanoi summit between the DPRK and the United States. Following the summit, both sides expressed readiness to stay engaged with each other, and having such kind of engagement is better than no contact at all. I believe it is important for all parties concerned to stay patient, seize opportunities and the positive factors that have emerged, and promote dialogue, especially dialogue between the DPRK and the United States, to move toward outcomes that we all would like to see. China is committed to a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. We hope there will be peace and stability there. And this has been our consistent position. A proper settlement of the Peninsula issue is in the interest of both the North and the South. It is also in the regional and global interest.

中國新聞社記者：我們注意到近幾年中國政府一直在著力改善民生，但是在民生領域也會聽到一些抱怨。明年就要全面建成小康社會了，除了脫貧之外，民生領域我們能有哪些實實在在的期待？政府對解決民生問題究竟是怎么考慮的？
China News Service: The Chinese government has been taking measures to improve living standards over the years. However, there are still complaints about some issues concerning quality of life. Next year we will complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. So in addition to poverty alleviation, what concrete progress can we look forward to in all these livelihood areas and what plan does the government have to improve people’s well-being?

李克強：你問的問題很大，因為民生本身就是天大的事情，要做的事情很多。我們要在發展經濟的過程中持續改善民生，抓住民生的一些重點、難點問題，一件一件去做。現在大數據顯示，“一老一小”的問題，就是養老服務、托幼服務有困難。這個確實應該引起我們高度重視。
Premier Li: You asked a fairly big question. Any issue related to people’s lives is of paramount importance and there are still a lot of things in this respect the government must do. We will continue to improve people’s well-being in the process of developing the Chinese economy. We must put our focus on these key areas and major difficulties faced by our people. A big data survey suggests that issues related to aged and child care are still commonly felt difficulties for our people and this must draw closer attention from the government.

現在中國老齡人口，如果按60歲以上算，近2.5億人，65歲以上有1.7億人，6歲以下兒童有上億人，他們的服務問題涉及到絕大多數家庭，但是我們這方面的服務供給是不足的。全面實施“兩孩”政策以后，托幼難更突出了。養老機構現在能提供的服務，每百人只有3個床位。有的大城市統計，可能要到90歲以后才能等到養老床位。我說這句話的意思是，現在我們即便繼續加大養老機構、多功能幼兒園發展的力度，也還是跟不上需求增長的速度。
The number of senior citizens at the age of 60 or above in China has reached 250 million, the number of those at or above 65, 170 million, and there are up to 100 million children in China below six years old. Services targeting these populations are still lacking, and they affect most of the Chinese families. The difficulty of insufficient child care services is particularly acute after the implementation of the two-child policy. When it comes to aged care facilities, on average, there are only three beds for every 100 senior citizens. Some surveys suggest that in big cities, one would have to wait until 90 years old before he or she can get a place in a nursing home. The increase of such facilities is lagging behind the growing needs for them.

怎么辦？我到一些地方去調研，發現已經有好的經驗，就是重點發展社區養老托幼服務，這樣可以做到就近可及、普惠公平，只要安全可靠，大家是歡迎的。所以，我想還是要創新機制，對接群眾需求，發揮社會力量作用，加大政府扶持力度。比如說，提供公租房，讓那些從事助餐助行、日間照料、康復、老年大學等的社會力量免費使用，還可以給予水電氣的費用減免，可以減稅免稅，因為他們實際上也是幫政府共同解決民生之難。社區工作人員、政府的有關部門要保障公平準入，把主要精力放在公正監管上，確保這些服務是安全可靠的，對那些違規的要堅決逐出市場，讓老人、孩子、家庭都放心安心。老年人能安度晚年，孩子們有幸福的童年，那就有千家萬戶幸福愉悅的家庭，也可以讓青年人或者中青年人有更多的精力去就業創業。當然，民生方面的問題還很多，我們會抓住重點難點，盡力而為、量力而行去解決。
How does the government plan to address this acute problem? In my local inspection trips, I have seen that some good experience has been gained in this respect, that is, to vigorously develop community-based providers of such services. If there can be accessible, quality services that are safe, reliable, and beneficial to all, they will certainly be very popular among the targeted populations. In this respect, the government needs to develop innovative mechanisms to better match market supply with our people’s demand. The government also needs to provide policy support. For example, we may provide public rental housing units for free to private operators as venues of facilities for providing assisted meal, assisted mobility, day care, rehabilitation, and even open senior colleges. The government may also provide tax exemption or tax-free treatment for these service providers in terms of their expenses on water, electricity and natural gas. These entities are all working together with the government to address our people’s actual needs. The main job of community-level officials and competent departments is to ensure fair market access and enhance oversight so that these services will be both safe and reliable, and those who break the rules will be driven out of the market. In this way, we will be able to keep our senior citizens, our children and all families reassured. When our senior citizens have a decent life in their retirement and our children a carefree childhood, all families will lead a happier life and our young and middle-aged people will have greater energy to tap into their entrepreneurship. I do recognize that there are still a great deal of things the government should do in areas related to people’s lives. We will do our level best within the realms of possibility to tackle the key concerns and difficulties that our people face.

彭博新聞社記者：中美建交40年以來，現在兩國關系猜疑和競爭似乎比以往任何時候都嚴重。您如何看待現在的中美關系，您對中美關系未來的走向持何看法？您能否簡單談及目前中美面臨的一些具體的沖突點？比如貿易問題，什么樣的貿易協議中方可以接受，什么樣的不能接受？在技術問題上，中國政府是否會迫使中國的有關企業幫助其監視他國？
Bloomberg News: There’s probably not been as much suspicion and competition in the relationship since ties began some 40 years ago. How would you describe the current state of US-China ties? What’s your outlook for the relationship? And also if you could address some specific issues on trade, what kind of deal would China accept, and what kind would China not accept? And on technology, would China force Chinese technology companies to help spy?

李克強：我認為，中美建交40年來，兩國關系可以說是一直向前，取得了豐碩成果。在這個過程中曲折不斷、風云變幻，但是向前走的大趨勢沒有改變，因為中美兩國之間有著廣泛的共同利益，我們的共同利益是遠大于分歧的。中美之間保持穩定的雙邊關系，不僅有利于雙方，也有利于世界。我認為，在曲折中前行、繼續前行這個大趨勢是不會、也不應該改變的。
Premier Li: I would like to say that China-US relationship has been forging ahead in the past four decades. And a great deal has been accomplished in the growth of this relationship. At the same time, it is true that the relationship has also gone through some twists and turns. But the underlying trend is for the relationship to go forward, and this has not changed. This is because there are broad common interests between China and the US. And the shared interests far outweigh the differences. Steady growth of China-US relationship is in the interest of both countries. It’s also something good for the whole world. So I expect this relationship to continue forging ahead despite twists and turns. And that should be the underlying trend going forward.

當然，中美關系保持總體穩定的同時，一些矛盾糾紛也經常突出地表現出來。一段時間以來，表現比較突出的是中美經貿摩擦。中美雙方磋商一直沒有停。在去年二十國集團領導人峰會期間，兩國元首達成了重要共識，現在雙方的磋商還在繼續進行。我們希望磋商能有成果，能夠實現互利雙贏。我相信，這也是世界的期待。
While maintaining the overall stability of China-US relations, we have also seen problems and difficulties appear from time to time. In the past weeks and months, one prominent difficulty in China-US relationship lies in their economic and trade friction. The two countries have been in consultation the whole time. Last year, during the G20 Summit, the presidents of the two countries reached important common understandings. Consultations between the two sides are still ongoing. We hope that good outcomes will be delivered out of those consultations, outcomes that work for both sides and are a win-win. I believe that such a result is also what the whole world would like to see.

中美作為兩大經濟體，經過幾十年來的發展、合作，可以說已是你中有我、我中有你，想人為地把這兩大經濟體隔開，那是不現實的，也是不可能的。我們還是應該本著合作比對抗好、相互尊重、平等互利這個原則去推動中美關系，包括經貿關系的發展，這樣可以使兩國人民從中受惠。對于矛盾和分歧，我們相信，中美兩國人民是有智慧、有能力來進行化解管控的，推動符合世界潮流的中美關系保持穩定并且向著健康的方向發展。
China and the US, as two large economies, have become closely entwined through years of development and cooperation. It is neither realistic nor possible to decouple these two economies. I believe we need to follow the principles of cooperation instead of confrontation, mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit, to continue to grow China-US relationship, including economic and trade ties, and to deliver concrete benefits to people of both countries. As for the differences and disagreements, we have the confidence that people of the two countries have the wisdom and capability to defuse and manage them properly, and to pursue steady and sound growth of China-US relationship in keeping with the trend of our time.

你問中國政府有沒有要求自己的企業去監視他國，我可以明確地回答你，這樣做不符合中國法律，也不是中國行事的方法，現在沒有，將來也決不會有。
You asked whether the Chinese government will ask Chinese companies to “spy” on other countries. Let me tell you explicitly that this is not consistent with Chinese law. This is not how China behaves. China did not and will not do that in the future.