Premier Wen Jiabao said Sunday that keeping the RMB exchange rate basically stable had played an important role in facilitating the recovery of the global economy from the worst financial crisis in decades.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao smiles during a press conference after the closing meeting of the Third Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 14, 2010. [Xinhua]

When the global economy was worst hit between July 2008 and February 2009, the real effective exchange rate of the RMB has risen by 14.5 percent, Wen told a press conference after the annual parliament session.