What ministers said at press conferences during two sessions（2）

March 8

Wang Yi, foreign minister

On China-US relations

The China-US relationship is transitioning steadily and developing in a positive direction, due to the intense communication and joint efforts of both sides. China and the United States are having fruitful communication on realizing exchanges between their presidents and at other levels, and expanding all areas of cooperation. The two countries should rise above their differences in social systems and zero-sum mentality.

On the Korean Peninsula situation

As a first step, China wants the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to stop its nuclear and missile programs, while the US and the Republic of Korea should halt their large-scale military exercises, and parties involved should go back to the negotiating table. Then we may follow the dual-track approach of denuclearizing the peninsula on the one hand and establishing a peace mechanism on the other.

March 9

Xiao Yaqing, head of State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission

On SOE revitalization

As reforms are implemented to revitalize inefficient, overstaffed State-owned enterprises (SOEs) and cut excessive industrial capacity last year, about 110,000 SOE employees were impacted -- some of them retired, some changed posts, and others' labor contracts were terminated. Part of their workload has been outsourced. All these people have been properly settled. Protecting the interests of SOE employees will be a major task in the next step. China will not experience another upsurge in layoffs like the one seen in the 1990s during the ongoing reform.

On SOE's role in global markets

To date, SOEs operate various businesses in 185 countries and regions and have got positive rewards in general. That is SOEs' new development direction -- to become internationalized and globalized. The government plans to strengthen SOEs' overseas investment in the following three fields -- institutional structure, regulated management, and accountability.

March 9

Chen Jining, Minister of Environmental Protection

On greener China

Environmental protection is closely related to well-being of everyone in China. We all are both polluters and protectors of the environment. We should become participators and contributors to environmental protection and not merely act as bystanders and accusers.

On smog

It's impossible to achieve clear air with a simple action. Many of the developed countries have spent 20 to 40 years, or even 50 years, to solve the problem of smog. It's hard to solve the problem in China within two to three years. But we can solve the air pollution issues faster than the developed countries.

March 10

Zhou Xiaochuan, governor, People's Bank of China

On RMB exchange rate

Sound economic fundamentals and a promising outlook for China's economy will help the yuan to naturally stabilize this year. The yuan is also expected to remain at a stable level thanks to achievements in supply-side structural reform and promising signs that have appeared since the fourth quarter of last year. But exchange rate fluctuation is normal because no one can make precise prediction as uncertainty can appear anytime.

On foreign exchange

The decline in China's foreign exchange reserve is a normal phenomenon as

China does not want that much forex reserve. The current $3 trillion foreign exchange reserves level is adequate for the country to maintain financial stability. China sees no need in its policymaking to overreact.

March 10

Zhang Mao, head of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce

On e-commerce

Online shopping is not an area that is above the law and all regulations apply to e-commerce. China has specially formulated regulations on online sales return and internet advertisement. The government regulators would take more measures on protecting the legitimate rights of online shoppers, including proposing new legislative bills and building up online database for stricter supervision over e-commerce.

On trademark registration

Statistics show that 12.37 million trademarks have been registered in China, with 3.69 million applications submitted last year, an increase of 28 percent year on year, which shows that people's awareness of intellectual property protection has increased.

The authorities have also been promoting the facilitation of trademark application with a total of 56 trademark agencies launched in prefecture-level cities, plus companies can directly apply for trademark in their local areas. Electronic application of trademark will be further promoted as 80 percent of trademarks are applied online.