Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao hosted his first-ever online chat with the public Saturday.
The following are some eye-catching quotes from Wen during the two-hour web chat:
-- It is the first time for me to have an online chat with netizens, and "first" things will inevitably makes one feel a little bit nervous.
-- It is a good way to use the Internet to exchange ideas with the public.
-- My mother always tells me that no matter whom you are speaking to, you must be honest and use your heart to talk.
-- I have long believed that the public are entitled to know what the government thinks and does and entitled to criticize government policies.
-- Confidence is much more precious than gold or currency. I have said that everywhere from the very beginning of the financial crisis.
-- To boost spending does not depend on government's call, but on whether consumers really have money in their pockets.
-- Economists, entrepreneurs and bankers must have moral blood.
-- If you doctors have any complaints or discontents, just give vent to them before me, but not before patients.
-- Even if something dangerous was hurled at me, I will not move at all.
-- Without reform and opening-up, I might be still conducting geological survey with a hammer in deep valleys today.
-- The people have given me power, and I don't know how to pay back, so I go all out to serve them.
-- I would like to see the people have a book in their hands while taking subway trains.
-- To be frank, I don't cook now. When my wife and I were young, who returned home from work earlier would cook.
(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2009)