Premier Wen Jiabao meets both Chinese and foreign reporters after the closing ceremony of the annual session of the National People's Congress in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 14, 2012.

Q: When can Chinese people elect their leaders directly?

A: I have said on several occasions that we must adhere to the practice of self-governance by villagers in China and villagers' lawful rights to directly elect village committees must be protected.

What has happened shows this has been a successful practice. The Chinese villagers have shown strong enthusiasm in participating in this process and strict methods of election have been formulated on the basis of the law of self-governance by villagers of China.

I still believe that if the people are able to run the affairs of a village well, gradually they will be able to run the affairs of a township and then a county.

We must continue to encourage people to take full steps to experiment and that can help enhance our people’s ability in this regard through these very practices.

I believe that the democratic system of China will continue to move forward in keeping with China's national conditions and no force will be able to hold this process back.