Hu Defends China’s Actions in Rare Address to Media

Rebecca Blumenstein reports in the Wall Street Journal:

Chinese President Hu Jintao, making an extremely rare direct address to the foreign media, defended his government’s preparations for the coming Olympic Games in Beijing and pledged to continue reform policies despite increasing economic challenges.

“We have one wish. It is to make the Beijing Olympic Games, a global sports gathering, a success,” Mr. Hu said. He acknowledged that this Olympic year has brought enormous challenges to China, including both high inflation and a series of natural disasters, including the massive earthquake in Sichuan province.

“China’s domestic economy is facing increasing challenges and difficulties,” he said. “We want to deepen reform and opening,” he said, and use government policies to sustain economic growth and control price rises.