Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called for unremitting efforts in the national campaign against smuggling and urged full awareness that the fight would be difficult, long and complex, at a national anti-smuggling conference held by the State Council from Aug. 4 to 5.

He called for united supervision, increased leadership and unswerving confidence and resolve in the campaign, while warning against slack efforts as well as fear and apprehension of difficulty and hardship.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council have been in full force to supervise the combat against smuggling, said Wen.

Since China opened to the outside world in 1978, and especially following the national anti-smuggling work conference held in 1998,the country has achieved remarkable results, both politically and economically, in its all-out campaign to crack down upon smuggling, he said.

Thus, large-scale activities have been contained, the country’s imports and exports are operating normally, and custom tariffs are on a big rise year by year, the premier said.

However, he stressed that the fight is still a crucial and urgent task as serious cases are still reported in some areas, using new varieties and modes.

(Xinhua News Agency August 6, 2003)