On September 24, 2008, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council held talks with heads of 6 American Chinese media, i.e. the China Press, SinoVision Inc., World Journal, Sing Tao Daily, Ming Pao and Phoenix TV as well as Hong Kong Chinese media in New York.

Amid a cordial and lively atmosphere, Wen exchanged opinions with the chiefs of the media on the issues about which the overseas Chinese are generally concerned.

The media executives told Premier Wen the upcoming firing of Shenzhou-7 spaceship fills all the overseas Chinese with joy. Wen said the progress of China’s aerospace undertaking demonstrates China is growing stronger and stressed China’s development is peaceful in nature and will neither hurt nor threat anyone.

The Chinese media spoke highly of the handling of the Chinese government of the earthquake disaster and infant milk powder contamination incident by offering timely and transparent information. Wen emphasized that to ensure information transparency it is key to make the government affairs public; government must do its job transparently and under the sunlight. Except responsibility, service, dedication and honesty, a government should enjoy no any other privilege. We always adhere to two principles. First is to give top priority to the safety of life of the people and second is to make information public. The openness of government affairs should be institutionalized and improved in the process of practice.

The heads of the Chinese media noted that overseas Chinese people are gratified with the improvement of cross-Straits relations but concerned about how the Chinese government handles the issue of Taiwan’s participation in international activities. Wen said the Taiwan authorities have returned to “the 1992 consensus” after the new Taiwan leaders took office. It is a progress. The positive momentum of cross-Straits relations gives hope to overseas Chinese. Wen pointed out we understand the feeling of the Taiwan people of participating in international activities. People on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits are both belong to the Chinese nation. One of the major tasks of China’s diplomacy is to protect the interest of all the Chinese people including the Taiwan compatriots. Under the precondition of one-China principle, we are willing to carefully study the questions involving the well-being and interest of the Taiwan people and seek proper settlement through consultations and joint efforts by both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

“Taiwan is also concerned about the recent dairy product incident of mainland China. Is it workable the two sides of the Taiwan Straits communicate with each other directly?” asked a Chinese media. Wen answered the central government immediately informed of the Taiwan side about the incident. In the future, the two sides of the Taiwan Straits should strengthen food safety cooperation and build a sound communication mechanism to maintain the interest of people of both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

The Chinese media were all interested in the impact of the U.S. financial crisis on China and how China will cope with it. Wen said China will adopt flexible, prudent and elastic policies in response to changes in the situation. What is most important is to maintain the long-term stable and relatively fast growth of the economy, which is key to solving all the problems of China and critical to the stability of the world economy. China’s economic strength has increased remarkably after 30 years of reform and opening up and today China has greater capacity and richer experience to cope with various risks. So long as we have confidence and calm down, we will be able to survive the crisis.

Wen was concerned about the 150 students from the earthquake-hit Sichuan province who are studying at the State University of New York. He asked the local Chinese media to convey his greetings to those students and expressed hope that the kids will study hard, learn skills and grow up to be brave and useful people so as to rebuild their home and serve the motherland in the future.

Wen also answered questions concerning the economic and political system reform, earthquake disaster relief, moral education of the youth and application of the Internet in China.

Hearing that Premier Wen usually gets information about overseas Chinese through the overseas Chinese media, heads of the media asked him to send some words to their readers. Wen said the 5,000-year history of the Chinese nation is the root of all of us. Overseas Chinese media plays an important role of connecting the Chinese people abroad. He expressed hope that they will play the role of bridge to serve the overseas Chinese, serve the motherland and serve to promote the friendship between the Chinese people and people of all other countries.

The chiefs of the 6 media shared the view the fact that Premier Wen took time off his busy schedule to hold talks with them shows the care of motherland of all the overseas Chinese. The Chinese people abroad are willing to contribute to accelerating the development of the motherland, promoting the peaceful reunification of China and push forward China’s exchanges and cooperation with other countries in the world.