"I have been prime minister for nine years, there are people who achieve prosperity, but many still have to break away from poverty."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - China is still a developing country facing a long road toward modernization, said Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao in a "policy speech" here Saturday.

"The volume of China`s economy is increasing as a whole but if it is divided by its 1.3 billion population, China is in the 100th place in the world. It still has to travel a long road toward modernization," Wen said.

Quoting the philosopher Lao Tse, Wen said that when someone knows someone else, it means that person is smart, but he or she is wise if the person knows him or heself.

"I have been prime minister for nine years, there are people who achieve prosperity, but many still have to break away from poverty," he said in his addess to his audience consisting of a number of United Indonesia Cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, ambassadors and students.

Problems in education, health, health insurance, industrialization and urbanization sectors are the example of his country`s matter he had faced.

According to the data from the World Bank, China`s current population have reached 1.3 billion people with income of 4.9 trillion U.S. dollars, or 3700 U.S. dollars income per capita

Wen said that China needs to be humble in following other countries success and it takes a hard work in the long run to provide people`s welfare.

"China does not have any reason to be arrogant and complacent," said Premier Wen.

However, according to the World Trade Organization (WTO), China`s economic performance has replaced Japan as the world`s second largest economy country in 2009 with 8.7 percent economic growth and trade volume amounted to 2.21 trillion U.S. dollars and become the largest goods exporter country in the same year.

"Chinese development will not interfere any country or even become a threat because the Chinese people always give priority to harmony and concord," he said.

Chinese People are friends with the Indonesian people even since the fourth century when the monk Fa-Hien came to Indonesia continued with monk I Ching who came to Sumatra and Java in the eighth century continued in the 20th century when the Asian-African Conference that brings spirit of independence of both countries in the continent.

"Half a century ago, China, Indonesia and other newly independent countries taking to the international politics stage, but today we are witnessing the revival of eastern civilization," said Premier Wen.

"Let us go hand in hand to create better future, and welcomes the arrival of Asian century," he said.
(Uu.A050/HAJM/B003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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