China has prepared plans to cope with even bigger difficulties amid the financial crisis and is ready to put forward new stimulus package at any time, said Premier Wen Jiabao Friday.
Wen, while meeting press after the annual parliament session, said China is prepared for protracted difficult situations and has gathered sufficient "ammunition" to combat the crisis.
"We are ready to put forward new stimulus policies at any time," Wen said.
China rolled out a 4-trillion-yuan (585.5 billion U.S.dollars) two-year stimulus package last year, for which the central government has pledged 1.18 trillion yuan.
Wen said Friday the 1.18 trillion yuan from the central government was totally new investment.
The package included huge government investment, tax reform, industrial restructuring, scientific innovation, social welfare and promoting employment.
Apart from the 4-trillion-yuan package, China will cut tax by 600 billion yuan, raise the old-age pension for retired workers, increase the salaries of 12 million teachers, increase farmers' income and provide more subsidies for them.
The country also plans to spend 850 billion yuan on reforming the health care sector within three years.
"These investment is not included in the 4-trillion-yuan stimulus package," Wen said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2009)