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BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The following is the full text of the Report on the Work of the Government delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao at the Second Session of the Eleventh National People's Congress on March 5, 2009 and adopted on March 13, 2009:          REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT     Delivered at the Second Session of the Eleventh National People's Congress on March 5, 2009          Wen Jiabao     Premier of the State Council     Fellow Deputies,     On behalf of the State Council, I now present to you my report on the work of the government for your deliberation and approval. I also solicit comments and suggestions on the report from the members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).          I. Review of the Work in 2008     The year 2008 was truly eventful. Our country's economic and social development withstood severe challenges and tests that were rarely seen before. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the people of all our ethnic groups faced difficulties squarely, worked with courage and determination, surmounted all difficulties and obstacles, and made new achievements in reform, opening up and socialist modernization.     - The national economy continued to maintain steady and rapid growth. GDP topped 30 trillion yuan, an increase of 9% over the previous year. Overall price rises were held in check. Government revenue was 6.13 trillion yuan, an increase of 19.5%. Grain output rose for the fifth consecutive year and totaled 528.5 million tons, a record high.     - Reform and opening up were further deepened. New breakthroughs were made in reforms in key areas and crucial links, such as the fiscal, taxation, financial and pricing systems and administration. Imports and exports totaled US$ 2.56 trillion, an increase of 17.8%. Paid-in foreign direct investment reached .4billion.     - Development of social programs was accelerated, and the living standards of the people continued to rise. A total of 11.13million more urban residents entered the workforce. Urban per capita annual disposable income reached 15,781 yuan, an increase of 8.4% in real terms, and rural per capita net income reached 4,761 yuan, up by 8% in real terms.     - Great victories were won in the fight against massive natural disasters. The Beijing Olympics and Paralympics were held successfully, and the Shenzhou VII manned space mission was a complete success.     These achievements signify that we have taken new and solid steps along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. They have greatly fortified the courage and strength of the people of all our ethnic groups to surmount difficulties and will definitely encourage us to bravely forge ahead on the new historical course.     Last year, we accomplished the following important work:     1. Making timely and resolute adjustments to macroeconomic policies and doing everything possible to maintain steady and rapid economic development     We maintained the right direction, focus, intensity and pace of macro control, and adopted a series of policies and measures to promote steady and rapid economic development. In a complex and volatile situation, we actively responded to the severe impact of the global financial crisis and worked hard to make our macro control more proactive, targeted and effective. In the middle of the year, when energy and grain prices on the international market were high, world economic growth slowed, and exports from and economic growth in China's coastal regions began to decline, we promptly shifted the priority of macro control to maintaining steady and rapid economic development and controlling price hikes, and adopted relevant fiscal, taxation and financial measures. In September, the international economic situation started to deteriorate sharply and its negative impact became increasingly felt in China. We again resolutely shifted the focus of macro control to preventing economic growth from slowing down too quickly. We implemented a proactive fiscal policy and a moderately easy monetary policy. We raised export rebate rates three times, lowered the benchmark interest rates on savings and loans for financial institutions on five occasions, reduced required reserve ratios four times, suspended the individual income tax on interest earnings from savings, reduced securities transaction stamp tax rates, cut taxes and fees on housing transactions, and increased credit support to small and medium-sized enterprises. In accordance with the requirement that we act fast, be forceful, take targeted measures and stress implementation, we promptly introduced ten measures to further boost domestic demand and promote economic growth, and implemented them without delay. We adopted a succession of policies and measures to encourage financial institutions to support economic development, promote sound development of the textile and other light industries and the real estate market, expand consumption by improving distribution, maintain steady growth in foreign trade, and keep the employment situation stable. At the same time, we stepped up efforts to formulate plans for restructuring and revitalizing key industries. Together, these measures have played a crucial role in alleviating serious problems affecting economic performance, enhancing confidence, stabilizing expectations and maintaining steady and rapid economic development.     We continued to strengthen our work related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers without any letup. Central government budgetary spending on agriculture, rural areas and farmers was 595.5 billion yuan for the whole year, a year-on-year increase of 163.7 billion yuan or 37.9%. This included 103 billion yuan, twice the figure for the previous year, in direct subsidies to grain producers, general subsidies for agricultural production supplies, and subsidies for superior crop varieties and the purchase of agricultural machinery and tools. We significantly raised minimum grain purchase prices three times, with the total increase exceeding 20%. We implemented a temporary policy for purchasing and stockpiling major agricultural products. We intensified the protection of arable land and the construction of agricultural water conservancy projects, and increased overall agricultural production capacity. We supported the production of hogs, oilseeds and dairy products. These policies and measures played an important role in maintaining and stimulating the enthusiasm of farmers, ensuring the supply of major farm products and increasing rural incomes, and provided strong support for maintaining overall stability in economic and social development.     We unswervingly promoted independent innovation and economic restructuring. We launched 16 major national science and technology projects, and established a number of new national engineering centers, key laboratories and enterprise technology centers in such fields as information technology, biotechnology and environmental protection. We successfully developed a number of key technologies and major equipment in the areas of regional aircraft, automobiles powered by new energy sources and high-speed railways. The central government invested 116.3 billion yuan in science and technology, an increase of 16.4%. Significant steps were taken in reorganization of the telecommunications and civil aviation industries. We continued to eliminate backward production facilities. Last year, we shut down small thermal power plants with a total capacity of 16.69 million kilowatts and closed 1,054 small coalmines. Investment in infrastructure and basic industries was increased, and a number of major projects in energy, transportation and water conservancy were completed or launched. Steady progress was made in implementing the master strategy for regional development, and economic development in different regions became better coordinated.     We steadfastly promoted energy conservation, emissions reduction and ecological and environmental protection. The central government allocated 42.3 billion yuan to support development of ten key energy conservation projects and environmental protection facilities. The daily sewage treatment capacity rose by an additional 11.49 million tons in urban areas, and desulfurization equipment was installed in coal-fired power plants with a total capacity of 97.12 million kilowatts. Energy consumption per unit of GDP fell by 4.59% from the previous year; chemical oxygen demand fell by 4.42%; and sulfur dioxide emissions fell by 5.95%. For the past three years combined, total energy consumption per unit of GDP dropped by 10.08%; chemical oxygen demand dropped by 6.61%; and sulfur dioxide emissions dropped by 8.95%. We built on the achievements in returning farmland to forests and restoring livestock pastures to grasslands, and carried out ecological conservation projects such as protecting virgin forests and developing the Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve in Qinghai Province. We implemented the plan to prevent and control water pollution in major river valleys and regions and issued the white paper China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change.     2. Balancing economic and social development and strengthening all aspects of social development with the focus on improving people's lives     Efforts were intensified to increase employment and improve the social safety net. We improved our policy to stimulate and expand employment by encouraging business startups, and enforced the minimum wage system. The coverage of all social security schemes continued to expand, with 17.53 million more urban workers subscribing to basic old-age insurance, 20.28 million more subscribing to basic medical insurance, and the unemployment, workers' compensation and maternity insurance steadily expanding to cover more workers. Pensions of enterprise retirees rose by 110 yuan per month per person. We launched trials to reform the basic old-age insurance system for employees of government-affiliated institutions. We actively explored ways to establish a new system of old-age insurance for rural residents and made steady progress in making social security available to rural migrant workers in urban areas and farmers whose land has been expropriated. We comprehensively improved the system of cost of living allowances for both urban and rural residents, and provided allowances to 66.19 million residents. We raised living allowances for low-income groups and university students in a timely fashion. Preferential treatment enjoyed by key entitled groups was increased substantially. We intensified efforts to develop low-income housing and renovate shantytowns, thus alleviating some of the housing difficulties of the low-income population. An additional of more than 48 million rural people gained access to safe drinking water.     Further progress was made in promoting fair education for all. Free compulsory education became available to all students, urban or rural, throughout the country, and all rural students receiving compulsory education obtained free textbooks. The standards for repairing and renovating school buildings in the central and western regions were raised, and the government allocated 3.25 billion yuan to provide heating to rural primary and secondary schools in the north. Development of vocational education was accelerated. The national financial aid system for students was further improved. The central government spent 22.3 billion yuan and local governments increased funding as well to assist more than 20 million students. Grants of 1,500 yuan per student per annum were given to secondary vocational school students from rural areas or needy urban families, benefiting 90% of the current student population in these vocational schools.     Steady progress was made in reform and development of the pharmaceutical and health care system. A total of 814 million people, accounting for 91.5% of the rural population, now benefit from the new type of rural cooperative medical care system. The number of selected cities participating in trials of the basic medical insurance system for urban residents increased from 88 to 317, and the number of participating individuals increased by 73.59 million to 117 million. Significant progress was made in developing a system of community-based health services in urban areas. We continued to expand the coverage of the reward and assistance system for rural families complying with family planning regulations, and implemented the "lower birthrate equals faster prosperity" program in more places in the countryside.     We accelerated the development of culture and sports. Public cultural infrastructure facilities were improved, the cultural industries developed rapidly, and reform of the cultural management system was constantly deepened. We mobilized all resources and hosted a distinctive and high-level Beijing Olympicsand Paralympics, thus fulfilling the century-old dream of the Chinese nation, and Chinese athletes competed hard and brave and scored excellent achievements in the Games. This greatly aroused the patriotism of all our people and strengthened the cohesiveness of our nation.     We continued to strengthen democracy and the legal system. The system of local-level democracy was further improved. Significant progress was made in enhancing law-based government. Last year, the State Council submitted eight bills, including a draft of the Social Insurance Law and draft amendments to the Law on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters, to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for deliberation. It also formulated or revised 30 administrative laws and regulations. The Regulations on Making Government Information Public was fully implemented. The public security system for crime prevention and control was strengthened. We battled against secessionist and terrorist activities, protected China's national security and maintained social stability. Our work related to ethnic minority, religious and overseas Chinese affairs further improved.     3. Vigorously advancing reform and opening up and injecting fresh vitality and impetus into economic and social development     Institutional restructuring of the State Council was basically completed and that of local governments is progressing steadily. Comprehensive rural reforms continued to deepen, and reform of collective forest rights was instituted throughout the country. SOE reform was deepened. The transformation of the Agricultural Bank of China and China Development Bank into joint stock companies proceeded smoothly. The new Law on Corporate Income Tax went into effect, and real estate taxes were unified for domestic and overseas-funded enterprises and Chinese and foreign individuals. After years of deliberation, reform in pricing, taxes and fees for refined petroleum products was smoothly introduced. Aplan for reform of the pharmaceutical and health care system was devised and referred to the general public for comments. These innovations in systems and mechanisms have laid a solid foundation for our long-term development.     The country opened wider to the outside world. We vigorously implemented the strategy of competing on quality and diversifying export markets. We increased efforts to establish innovation bases to invigorate trade through science and technology and bases for providing services outsourced from other countries. We supported the export of products with Chinese trademarks and intellectual property rights. We improved the policy system for the processing trade. We steadily opened service industries wider to the outside world and provided more guidance to orient foreign investment in China. We integrated existing funds and set up new ones designed to promote external economic and technological cooperation. We promulgated regulations on managing overseas contracted projects and rectified the system of administration of cooperative overseas labor services. We actively promoted energy and resources cooperation overseas, further expanded our assistances to other countries, and the pace of enterprises going global was accelerated. Further progress was made in the development of free trade zones, and in our economic dialogues with major trading partners and mutually beneficial cooperation with other developing countries.          Fellow Deputies,     A massive earthquake that shocked the world struck Wenchuan on May 12. Under the firm leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, people of all ethnic groups in China, especially in the quake zone, worked as one and fought in unison against the earthquake disaster. The people's army rushed to the frontlines without thinking of their own safety. We launched an earthquake rescue and relief operation that accomplished its work faster, mobilized more personnel and committed more resources than ever before in China's history. We steadfastly gave top priority to saving people's lives. We pulled 84,000 survivors out of the rubble. We promptly repaired damaged infrastructure, and resolutely unblocked the Mount Tangjia quake lake to avert potential secondary disasters. We did our utmost to prevent an epidemic from occurring and ensured that there was no major outbreak of diseases after the deadly earthquake. The central government allocated 38.4 billion yuan for quake relief and 74 billion yuan for post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction. We promptly introduced a host of policies and measures to support the quake zone. We energetically organized one-to-one assistance to designated areas affected by the earthquake. People from all sectors of society in China made generous donations, both in cash and in kind; our compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan as well as overseas Chinese contributed generously to the disaster relief campaign; and the international community provided us with earthquake rescue and relief assistance. All this combined to forma boundless source of strength for the Chinese people to overcome the disaster. This hard struggle against the earthquake produced uncountable touching and brave exploits and fully demonstrated the great indomitable and unyielding spirit of the Chinese people, thus writing a heroic chapter in the history of the nation.     None of the achievements we made last year came easily. They were the result of overall planning and correct leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary, as well as the concerted and strenuous efforts of the whole Party, the entire army and the people of all our ethnic groups. On behalf of the State Council, I hereby express our sincere gratitude to the people of all our ethnic groups and to the democratic parties, mass organizations and people from all sectors of society. I also express our sincere thanks to compatriots in the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions and Taiwan and to overseas Chinese, as well as to foreign governments, international organizations and friends in other countries that take an interest in and support China's modernization drive.     While acknowledging our achievements, we must be clearly aware that we face unprecedented difficulties and challenges.     First, the global financial crisis continues to spread and get worse. Demand continues to shrink on international markets; the trend toward global deflation is obvious; and trade protectionism is resurging. The external economic environment has become more serious, and uncertainties have increased significantly.     Second, continuous drop in economic growth rate due to the impact of the global financial crisis has become a major problem affecting the overall situation. This has resulted in excess production capacity in some industries, caused some enterprises to experience operating difficulties and exerted severe pressure on employment. Factors leading to decline in government revenues and increase in government expenditures have increased. It has become more difficult to maintain steady agricultural development and keep rural incomes growing.     Third, institutional and structural problems that have long hindered healthy economic development still remain, and some of them are still prominent. Consumption demand is insufficient, and development of tertiary industries is sluggish. Our capacity for independent innovation is weak. Consumption of energy and other resources is high. Environmental pollution is serious. Disparities in development between urban and rural areas and between regions are widening.     Fourth, some problems affecting the vital interests of the people have not been fundamentally alleviated. There are still many problems demanding urgent solution in the areas of social security, education, health care, income distribution and public security.     Fifth, order in the market is not well standardized; market oversight and law enforcement are not fully in place, and the social credit rating system is still in need of improvement. A number of serious and major incidents concerning food and workplace safety have occurred, which have inflicted serious loss of life and property on the people and taught us a sobering lesson.     We need to thoroughly appreciate how serious and complex the international and domestic economic situations are, be more mindful of potential perils and crises, fully exploit favorable conditions and actively respond to all challenges so that we can successfully accomplish all our tasks and prove worthy of the great expectations and trust conferred on us by the people.

PATTAYA, Thailand, April 11 (Xinhua) -- China, Japan and South Korea agreed here Saturday to continue pushing forward the Six-Party talks aimed at realizing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.     The consensus was reached when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak met here to discuss the recent rocket launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.     Discussions about related issues should be conducive to maintaining the progress of the Six-Party talks, peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, Wen said. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao meets with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso(r) and President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Myung Bak(l) in Pattaya, Thailand, on April 11, 2009    Any action that may further complicate the situation should be avoided, he emphasized.     The three leaders also agreed to strengthen cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea and push forward their cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.     The three leaders expected to meet in China later this year for the second summit of Chinese, Japanese and South Korean leaders.

SEOUL, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), on Tuesday called for stronger economic and trade ties between China and South Korea and urged their business communities to work together to help promote the strategic cooperation between the two nations.     Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the call in an address at a welcome luncheon for him hosted by four Korean business groups: the Korea Foreign Trade Association, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of the Korean Industries, and the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Businesses. Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, delivers a speech during a luncheon with chiefs of four South Korean business lobby groups in Seoul, South Korea, on April 7, 2009. Li praised the development of bilateral ties since China and South Korea established diplomatic ties 17 years ago. During the past 17 years, bilateral relations have witnessed rapid development and cooperation and exchanges expanded in a comprehensive manner, which has benefited the two countries and the region, he said.     The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government attach great importance to the ties with South Korea and are willing to work with South Korea to continue strengthening and deepening the strategic cooperation, he said.     Li spoke about China's stand regarding the current global financial crisis, the measures it has adopted to counter the crisis and its participation in international cooperation.     The London summit of the Group of 20 yielded pragmatic results, he said. At the summit, Chinese President Hu Jintao's speech on strengthening macro-policy coordination, reforming international financial institutions and improving financial regulation, played a constructive role in the outcomes of the meeting, Li said.     He said that Hu and his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak, at their meeting in London, agreed to work to deepen the pragmatic cooperation in various fields between the two countries and push forward the bilateral relations.     Li suggested both sides make efforts to deepen the mutually beneficial cooperation to ensure the smooth growth of bilateral trade, enhance policy coordination to promote financial cooperation, work out new ways to boost mutual investment and strengthen multilateral cooperation to improve the international trade environment.     He also proposed entrepreneurs of the two countries continue to contribute to the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership, make new efforts to promote the mutual understanding and friendship between China and South Korea, facilitate the exchanges between the younger generation and promote the cultural exchanges between the two nations.     South Korea is the last leg of Li's four-nation tour, which has already taken him to Australia, Myanmar and Japan.

WASHINGTON, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Thursday proposed some major guidelines for China and the United States to promote sound and steady growth of bilateral relations in the new era. Speaking at a luncheon meeting at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Yang expressed satisfaction that the two countries have worked together and ensured a smooth transition of bilateral relations in the past 50 days since the new U.S. administration took office.     The two sides have established good working relations at the top level and between various government departments and maintained close consultation and coordination in bilateral and multilateral areas, he said. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi delivers a speech at the center for strategic & international studies (CSIS) in Washington, the United States of America on March 12, 2009.    "A good beginning is half the success," Yang said, noting that this good start has laid the groundwork for the further growth of China-U.S. relations.     "We should now set our sight on the longer term and draw up a good blueprint for China-U.S. relations in the coming years. We should make concerted efforts and promote sound and steady growth of our relations," he said.     To do this, the minister proposed some guidelines which he believed could help advance China-U.S. relations in the coming years.     First, he said, both sides should adopt a strategic and long-term perspective and keep the relations on the right track.     China and the United States now have more common interests and a broader foundation of cooperation on a series of major and pressing issues facing today's world, according to the minister. The strategic significance and global influence of China-U.S. relations have further increased and their relations in the new era should be broader and deeper.     The minister believed that the two countries should work together in an all-around way to raise bilateral relations to a new and much higher level of cooperation in the 21st century on the basis of mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences and cooperation for win-win results.     Second, Minister Yang said, both sides should maintain close dialogue and exchanges at the top and other levels and cement the political foundation of the relations.     Over the years, he said, close communication and frequent exchanges between the two countries "have given a strong boost to the sustained, sound and steady growth of our relations."     He hoped that both sides will work together and launch proposed "China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogues" mechanism at an early date so that through continued discussions on strategic, overarching and long-term issues of mutual interest, they will further enhance mutual trust and cooperation.     Third, according to the minister, both sides should expand mutually-beneficial cooperation and inject fresh impetus into the relations. U.S. President Barack Obama (R) meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi at the White House, Washington, the United States, on March 12, 2009The priority for China and the United States at the moment, Yang said, is to tackle the international financial crisis through intensified cooperation and work together to maintain and promote world financial and economic stability.     He said China and the United States share important common interests with respect to climate change, energy and the environment and have broader prospects to cooperate in such fields as counter-terrorism, nonproliferation, military-to-military relations, science and technology, culture and health.     The fourth guideline, he believed, is that both sides should respect and accommodate each other's core interests and make every effort to minimize potential disruption and damage to the relations.     The minister urged the U.S. side to handle Taiwan-related issues prudently and properly and respect the Chinese people's position of upholding state sovereignty and territorial integrity on equal sensitive issues related to Tibet.     For the fifth, Minister Yang said that both sides should promote dialogue and exchanges between people of the two countries and build stronger public support for the relations.     "We will not forget that the ice in China-U.S. relations began to thaw with the mutual visits of our pingpong teams," he said.     "The tremendous progress made in our relations over the last 30years would not have been possible without the active involvement and support of people from all walks of life in both countries," he added.     "It is of particular importance to look ahead to the future and vigorously promote and support exchanges and cooperation between the young people, so that the cause of China-U.S. friendship will endure and prosper further, the minister stressed. Yang is here on a five-day working visit as a guest of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese business delegation inked trade deals worth more than 300 million U.S. dollars with Swiss companies on Thursday, ending the second leg of their four-state procurement tour in Europe.     The agreements covered products ranging from software to electric equipments and metals, which meet China's domestic needs, according to Chinese trade officials.     Among those agreements, Switzerland's ABB, a global leader in power and automation technologies, signed a letter of intent for the supply of generator circuit breakers to China Nuclear Power Engineering Company.     Switzerland's Glencore, one of the world's largest suppliers of a wide range of commodities and raw materials to industrial consumers, also signed a deal with Chinalco, the world's second largest alumina producer and the third largest primary aluminum producer.     Holcim, one of the world's leading suppliers of cement and aggregates based in Switzerland, deepened its partnership with China's Huaxin Cement Company (HCC). They signed a frame agreement for technical service, technology and new equipment supplies covering the next two years.     Holcim is already the single largest shareholder in HCC, holding a stake of 39.9 percent of the Chinese firm.     "HCC with Holcim's support will continue to strengthen and extend its leading role as a modern cement producer in China," the two companies said in a statement. Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming (L) shakes hands with Swiss Economy Minister Doris Leuthard, after signing a memorandum on the intensification of technical cooperation in the field of environmental technology, in Zurich, Switzerland, Feb. 26, 2009. Chen and Leuthard attended here on Thursday the Sino-Swiss Economic and Trade Forum with the aim of intensifying relations between Swiss and Chinese companiesChinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming, who led the delegation, said that besides this team, there will be more Chinese business delegations coming to Switzerland for trade and investment opportunities.     Swiss Economy Minister Doris Leuthard revealed that a Swiss business group will also go to China within the year.     Both ministers witnessed the deal-signing ceremony and opened an economic and trade forum with the aim of intensifying relations between Swiss and Chinese companies.     Addressing the forum, Chen said that cooperation is the effective way to tackle the international financial crisis which posed great challenge to world economy. Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming (L) and Swiss Economy Minister Doris Leuthard attend a press conference in Zurich, Switzerland, Feb. 26, 2009. Chen and Leuthard attended here on Thursday the Sino-Swiss Economic and Trade Forum with the aim of intensifying relations between Swiss and Chinese companies"Past experience shows that in time of crisis it is all the more important to adhere to a policy of openness and cooperation," he said. "Protectionism will not revive the economy. Rather, it will exacerbate the recession."     "This trade and investment promotion delegation to Europe is a clear indication of China's opposition to protectionism and its readiness to work together with Europe in tiding over the crisis," he added.     Highlighting China and Switzerland are important economic and trade partners to each other, Chen said the two economies are highly complementary.     China is highly competitive in labor-intensive products, such as garments, jewelry, footwear and containers, offering budget choice to Swiss consumers, while Switzerland boasts a distinct competitive edge in watches, medicines, measuring instruments and precision machinery.     In 2008, bilateral trade between China and Switzerland reached 11.25 billion U.S. dollars, increasing 19.2 percent despite the economic downturn. China is now Switzerland's second largest trading partner in Asia.     Leuthard said that the visit by the Chinese delegation sent a strong signal that China and Switzerland remain committed to open markets and against protectionism.     She said the agreements between Swiss and Chinese companies are "good news to our businesses."     "They signed contracts which will safeguard jobs and strengthen the cooperation between Swiss and Chinese companies in different fields in our economy," she said.     Earlier today, Leuthard and Chen signed a memorandum on the intensification of technical cooperation in the field of environmental technology.     "Switzerland and China will cooperate more strongly to ensure that economic growth can be shaped in a more sustainable and environmentally-sound manner," the Swiss government said.     To this end, a joint working group is to be established to examine the potential for cooperation in the areas of technology transfer, energy efficiency, renewable energies and the efficient use of resources. The group will submit proposals on the shape of this cooperation.     Switzerland is the second stop of the Chinese business delegation's European tour. On Wednesday, they signed 37 procurement deals worth about 11 billion euros (14 billion U.S. dollars) with local firms in Germany.     In an interview with Xinhua on Wednesday, Chen expected purchase deals with Switzerland would be modest compared with Germany due to the gap in the two countries' economic scales.     The delegation will arrive in Madrid, Spain later today and then London, the last stop. Chen said the deals to be signed there could be a more than in Switzerland.