Chinese premier Wen Jiabao identified tackling inflation as Beijing’s top economic priority this year as his government tries to make the country’s growth more sustainable and equitable.

　　中国总理温家宝将抑制通胀列为政府的首要经济任务。目前中国政府正试图使经济增长更具可持续性、更加公平合理。

　　“Recently prices have risen fairly quickly and inflation expectations have increased,” Mr Wen said in his annual state of the union address in Beijing Saturday. “This problem concerns the people’s wellbeing, bears on overall interests and affects social stability.”

　　“当前，物价上涨较快，通胀预期增强，”温家宝上周六在北京作年度政府工作报告时表示。“这个问题涉及民生、关系全局、影响稳定。”

　　In a speech filled with exhortations to safeguard social harmony and stability, Mr Wen outlined the “brilliant achievements” made by the Communist Party over the last five years and presented a blueprint for the next five-year plan.

　　在通篇宣扬维护社会和谐与稳定的讲话中，温家宝介绍了共产党在过去五年期间的“辉煌成就”，并陈述了下一个五年计划的蓝图。

　　First on the list of short-term objectives was tackling persistent price rises that have lifted the benchmark consumer price index by nearly 5 per cent in each of the last three months.

　　在短期目标清单上，抑制持续价格上涨排在首位。过去三个月来，中国的基准消费价格指数(CPI)每个月的涨幅都接近5%。

　　The government must “make it our top priority in macroeconomic control to keep overall price levels stable” , Mr Wen said.

　　政府必须“把稳定物价总水平作为宏观调控的首要任务”，温家宝表示。

　　He went on to add that this task could involve “administrative means [an apparent reference to price controls] when necessary.”

　　他接着补充称，这项任务可能涉及“必要的行政手段”，这显然是指价格控制措施。

　　But Mr Wen also explained somewhat contradictory plans to continue the rapid minimum wage increases across the country that some analysts believe have already contributed to rising inflation expectations.

　　但是，温家宝也解释了有些矛盾的计划，即继续推进全国各地快速提高最低工资的行动，一些分析人士相信，此类行动已加剧了通胀预期的上升。

　　With one eye on the wave of unrest sweeping across the Middle East, China’s leaders believe they must urgently address the country’s wide and growing income gap in order to safeguard social stability and maintain their tight grip on power.

　　面对席卷中东的动荡浪潮，中国领导人相信，他们必须迅速采取行动，应对国内收入差距巨大、且仍在不断扩大的问题，以维护社会稳定，保持他们对权力的牢牢掌控。

　　“Through unremitting efforts, we will reverse the trend of a widening income gap as soon as possible and ensure that the people share more in the fruits of reform and development,” Mr Wen promised.

　　“通过持续不断的努力，尽快扭转收入分配差距扩大趋势，努力使广大人民群众更多分享改革发展成果，”温家宝承诺。

　　In his own state of the union address in late January, US President Barack Obama said America was facing a “Sputnik moment” in a reference to growing competition from the rise of countries like China and India.

　　美国总统巴拉克·奥巴马(Barack Obama)在1月下旬发表国情咨文讲话时曾表示，中国和印度等国的崛起，竞争不断加大，使美国面对一个“斯普特尼克时刻”。

　　Many pundits in the US and elsewhere have fretted over China’s perceived superiority in everything from high-school test scores to management of the economy but in his speech on Saturday Premier Wen highlighted the challenges facing his government.

　　从高中考试成绩，到经济管理，在美国和其它地方的许多评论人士眼里，中国在所有领域都占有优势，这让他们感到焦虑，但温家宝在上周六的讲话中指出了中国政府面临的种种挑战。

　　“We are keenly aware that we still have a serious problem in that our development is not yet well balanced, coordinated or sustainable,” he said.

　　“我们清醒地认识到，我国发展中不平衡、不协调、不可持续的问题依然突出，”他表示。

　　Environmental degradation, dwindling resources, rudimentary education and health services, over-reliance on investment rather than consumption, a lack of scientific or technical innovation, poor food safety and rampant official corruption were all serious problems identified by Mr Wen.

　　环境退化、资源枯竭、粗糙的教育和医疗服务、过于依赖投资而非消费、缺乏科技创新、食品安全糟糕，以及官员腐败现象严重——这些都是温家宝列举的突出问题。