Chinese Premier Rules Out Democratic Reform in Near Future

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is ruling out plans to allow more democracy in China's near future, saying the country must focus first on economic development. In a speech published by China's state-run media Tuesday, Mr. Wen said that China will remain in the primary state of socialism for a long time.

Mr. Wen did say, however, that China would develop its own democratic policies, and that a socialist system is not contradictory to those policies.

China's annual parliamentary session is to open next week, with economic reform and social issues expected to be a core focus. China's economy has grown tremendously in recent years. But leaders of China's one-party system have carried out only limited democratic and political reforms.

温家宝排除了中国在近期内实现更多民主的计划。他说，中国必须首先集中精力发展经济。温家宝在中国官方媒体发表一篇讲话中说，中国在相当长的时间内仍将处于社会主义初期阶段。

但是温家宝表示，中国将发展自己的民主政策，社会主义制度和这些政策并不矛盾。

中国每年一度的人大会议将在下星期召开，预计经济改革和社会问题将是这次会议的中心议题。中国经济近年来出现了巨大的增长，但是中国一党专制体制的领导人只实行了有限的民主和政治改革。