From LA Times:
China is on the road to democracy, but not necessarily to Western-style democracy, China’s premier said Friday, citing the country’s unique concerns and the challenge of operating within a socialist framework.
During a rare two-hour meeting with journalists in the cavernous Great Hall of the People, Wen Jiabao delivered a series of messages meant to reassure constituencies inside and outside the country.
One was that the world should not be afraid of China’s growing defense spending despite a missile test that destroyed an aging Chinese weather satellite. He also said China wants to reduce its trade surplus, and he sought to assure Washington that Beijing’s overseas investments would not destabilize the dollar.[Full Text]
