BEIJING — Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji offered a spirited defense of his job performance Friday, citing the country's continued economic growth--especially through the Asian financial crisis--as his main achievement in the last four years.
Abandoning some of the self-deprecating modesty that has won him charm points in the past, Zhu told reporters that he has delivered on nearly all the promises he made in 1998, when he became China's No. 3 leader.
Under his government, he said, China has kept its currency stable, turned around its faltering state sector, begun reforming its banks, streamlined its bureaucracy, overhauled its health-care system and met its goals in several other areas--a glowing litany of success that made many in his audience raise their eyebrows.
Although he acknowledged that there is "room for improvement" and that some tasks remain unfinished, Zhu said he has "a clear conscience."
"On the whole," he declared on live national television, "I'm satisfied with the progress."
The pronouncement came during Zhu's annual news conference at the close of China's parliament, a yearly media event that affords one of the few opportunities here for unscripted exchanges between a high-ranking Chinese leader and domestic and international journalists.
The news conference was probably Zhu's last as premier because a successor is slated to take over at this time next year.
Throughout the 70-minute question-and-answer session, Zhu's comments often took on a valedictory tone, as if he were trying to set the seal on his legacy as premier, even though he has a year left on the job.
"This government has made good on its promise," he said. Zhu added that he took special pride in having shepherded the Chinese economy through the Asian financial crisis and kept economic growth on track. So far this year, he said, the Chinese economy is up 7.6% compared with last year.
There has been speculation in recent months that Zhu, 73, might stay on for a second term despite his previous assertions of being old and ready to retire. At the news conference, however, he primly skirted questions asking whether he would hold on to his post.
"I have answered countless such questions in the past, and every time I answer, my answer gives rise to unjustifiable speculation," Zhu said. He told the audience to "be patient--the answer will be out fairly soon."
