Over the past few years, the government has also made efforts to increase fiscal input in Tibet to accelerate its economic development and improve the livelihoods of its farmers and herdsmen.

Tibet will remain committed firmly to the policy of opening up, because this meets the needs of its development.

Tibet's peace, stability and continuous progress have proven that the policies we have adopted are right.

Tibet is an inalienable part of China's territory, and Tibet-related issues are completely China's internal affairs. That brooks no foreign interference. This is our principle and position. Our policy toward the Dalai Lama is consistent and clear-cut. As long as he gives up his separatist stand, we're willing to have contact and consultations with his representatives. This door is always open.

Last year, under very difficult circumstances, at the request of the Dalai Lama, we had three rounds of consultations and contact with his representatives. But for such contact and consultations to make progress, I think what is important is for the Dalai Lama to have sincerity, otherwise no substantive result can be made. Such contact and consultations may continue.

We always say that the Dalai Lama is not a simple religious figure, but actually a political exile. We have full justification for this position. The so-called exile government situated in Dharamsala is a de facto, theocratic government, and this illegal government is under direct leadership of the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama has been traveling around the world, and he is quite capable of misleading some political figures. Some Western countries are also trying to make use of him. I can give you an example to illustrate that when we approach the Dalai Lama, we not only need to listen to what he says, but also watch what he does.

Several days ago, the Dalai Lama said he had never asked the Central Government to withdraw Chinese troops from Tibet or to move the Han ethnic group out of Tibet. These are sheer lies.

You may refer to the "five-point peace plan" for Tibet he made in the United States back in 1987 or the "seven-point new suggestions" he made in Strasbourg, France, in 1988. In those proposals, he made it very clear that he calls on the Central Government of China to withdraw troops from Tibet and to remove the military installations there. He also calls for an immediate end to moving the Han ethnic group into Tibet. As for those Han people who already live in Tibet, he has asked them to leave. These are all written words. Of course, the Dalai Lama may change his course, but he can never deny what he already has said.

Supporting Hong Kong and Macao

In my report on the work of the government, we have already introduced several steps to supporting Hong Kong and Macao in this regard. I would like to make four points in clearer terms.

First, Hong Kong is an international financial center. What is most important for Hong Kong to tackle the international financial crisis is to maintain its financial stability and to retain its status as an international financial center. To this end, I believe that it is necessary for Hong Kong and the mainland to strengthen their financial cooperation. I can tell you here that as far as the Renminbi settlement plan is concerned, the competent Central Government departments have already formulated the plan. Once the plan is approved by the State Council, we will see it is implemented as quickly as possible.

Second, we want to accelerate the infrastructure development connecting the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao. And I want to make very clear here that the financing problems in the Hong Kong-Macao-Zhuhai bridge project have already been resolved. Preparations are now being made very intensively, and we will try to start construction before the end of this year.

Third, within this year, a supplemental agreement to the CEPA between the mainland and Hong Kong will be signed, which will further increase access to the mainland market by Hong Kong's service sector.

Fourth, the Central Government has already approved the long-term plan for the reform and development of the Pearl River Delta. In accordance with this plan, we will be able to give full scope to the advantages of the three regions, further strengthen their cooperation and enable the three regions to draw on each other's experiences.

Fifth, in order to encourage the diversified development of Macao, the Central Government is also prepared to introduce new steps.

People in Hong Kong and Macao have experience in tackling the Asian financial crisis. We have full confidence that under the leadership of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, people in Hong Kong and Macao are fully capable of tackling the international financial crisis and will be able to overcome the difficulties and maintain the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao.

Before I conclude my answer to this question, I would like to reassure you that the motherland is always the strongest supporter of Hong Kong and Macao, and we will do what is in our power to support the economic development of Hong Kong and Macao.

Cross-Straits trade relations

I would like to share with you the following facts. Taiwan and the mainland have very close economic ties. It is fair to say the ties are very close and that they are indivisible. Last year, despite the impact of the international financial crisis, the two-way trade volume between the two sides was nearly $130 billion, with Taiwan running a surplus of $77.8 billion. More than 30,000 Taiwanese enterprises are operating on the mainland with a total investment of $47 billion. Given the close ties, we should step up our cooperation in joint endeavors to tackle the financial crisis.

In my report on the work of the government, I did say that the two sides of the Taiwan Straits should enter into consultations at an early date to sign a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement and establish a cooperation mechanism tailored to the features of the two sides. I think if we take a close look at what we put down in the report, we can see that concerning the agreement and establishment of the mechanism, we need to follow the following principles.

First, this should be in accord with the state of development of cross-Straits relations; second, it should be in accord with the needs of cross-Straits economic cooperation and trade; and third, this should be in accord with the features of economic ties and trade between the two sides.

In short, we want to attain the goal of mutual benefit and win-win results for both sides. We sincerely hope that the two sides across the Taiwan Straits will be able to intensify the efforts in their consultations to sign such an agreement in an appropriate way and establish a cooperation mechanism that is conducive to both sides.