BEIJING, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's annual Central Economic Work Conference opened here Monday to set tone for the economic development next year. Observers believed the three-day event would give priority to efforts to maintain stable economic growth. They reckoned in 2009, China would see more risks for worse economic slowdown, more struggling smaller businesses, grim export situation and arduous task of transformation of economic growth pattern. "It is imperative for China to maintain an economic growth of at least 8 percent," said Zhuang Jian, senior economist with Asian Development Bank's China Resident Mission. It was hard for China to bear the consequences of a too slow GDP growth, Zhuang added, citing bankruptcy of numerous enterprises, more migrant workers being laid off and difficulties for college graduates to find jobs. China's macro-economic policies experienced a dramatic adjustment-- from "preventing economic overheating and curbing inflation" at the beginning of this year to "maintaining growth through expanding domestic demand" at present. In the first three quarters, the nation saw its GDP growth slowed to a single-digit rate for the first time over the past five years, thanks partly to macro-economic control efforts and the ongoing financial woes worldwide. "The Chinese economy has suspended continuous heating and proceeded into a period of slow down," Zhang Liqun, a researcher with the macro economy department under the Development Research Center of the State Council, commented. "The slowdown was worse than expected," said Ma Jiantang, head of the National Bureau of Statistics. Data from the bureau showed that the country's GDP growth was 10.6 percent in the first quarter, 10.1 percent in the second, and9 percent in the third. President Hu Jintao said at the end of November that the Chinese economy was pressurized by global economic downturn, obvious ebbing of demand from abroad and weakening of the country's traditional competitive edge. "Impact from the international financial tsunami on the Chinese economy has begun to show up, and to deepen into various sectors of the real economy," said Wang Yiming, deputy head of the macro economic research institute of the National Development and Reform Commission. Since mid October, the Central Government has promulgated a string of policies and measures to prevent the national economy from sliding drastically. They included end of a tight monetary policy and commencement of a moderately easy one, shifting the fiscal policy from "prudent" to "active", starting projects to improve infrastructure and promote people's livelihood, and, expanding domestic demand. The People's Bank of China announced tax exemptions and downpayment cuts as of Oct. 27 to boost the falling real estate sector. The minimum downpayment for a first-time buyer of a residence smaller than 90 square meters was reduced to 20 percent from 30 percent. Interest rates on mortgages for first-time buyers were cut 0.27percentage point. The floor for interest rates was lowered to 70 percent of the central bank's benchmark rate. The central bank cut benchmark interest rates by 0.27 percentage point as of Oct. 30, the third such move in six weeks. The benchmark one-year deposit rate dropped to 3.60 percent from 3.87 percent, while the benchmark one-year lending rate fell from 6.93 percent to 6.66 percent. Tax rebates were raised for 3,486 export items as of Nov. 1. The adjustment covered such labor-intensive industries as textiles, toys, garments, and high-tech products, accounting for 25.8 percent of products covered by customs tariffs. Rebate rates run roughly from 9 percent to 14 percent. On Nov. 9, state councilors announced a four-trillion-yuan (583.9 billion U.S. dollars) economic-stimulus package, which was seen as the most exciting stimuli in 10 years. To boost consumption, particularly in the rural areas where 900 million people inhabited, was important part of efforts to expand domestic demand, observers believed. China has launched a scheme to subsidize rural residents for buying home appliances since the end of 2007. It is estimated that in a period of four years, nearly 480 million units of refrigerators, washing machines, color TV sets and cell phones, which were in huge demand among farmers, will be sold in rural areas nationwide. That means 920 billion yuan to be spent by rural consumers. "There is still a large room for the government to mull more policies to boost consumption, such as raising the threshold for taxable income and increasing income for lower-income earners," said Cai Zhizhou, an economist with the prestigious Peking University. Export has since long been a major driving force for the Chinese economy. Economists believed the stable development of smaller enterprises, particularly the exporters, which provided jobs for 75 percent of urban employees and rural migrant workers, was related to the stability of the enormous Chinese labor market. How to prevent export from sliding down too fast is one of the top concerns of the Chinese government. "It is no doubt that China's export situation will become more grim next year. However, if the country manages to maintain a moderately fast growth in foreign sales of machines and electronics, it will likely achieve a growth of more than 15 percent in export at large," said Mei Xinyu, a trade expert with the Ministry of Commerce. China has taken a string of measures to boost development of smaller enterprises. "It is necessary for the government to work out more detailed, effective methods to mitigate tax burdens and enhance credit support for smaller businesses, and to help them with their efforts to promote technical upgrading and explore more markets," said Zhao Yumin, another economist with the Ministry of Commerce. The service sector, which was able to provide numerous jobs, was yet to be expanded substantially, Zhao added. Zhang Xiaojing, a senior economist with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that it was definitely wrong for China to waive long-term goals for short-term interests. He believed that to promote the shift of economic growth pattern and maintain the sustainable economic growth would be one of the important topics for the ongoing Central Economic Work Conference.
BEIJING, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Premier Wen Jiabao has urged Chinese companies to stress innovation to combat the impact of global economic turmoil. Wen made the remarks as he visited companies, markets, communities and rural areas in China's eastern Shandong Province over the first two days of 2009. He sought to reassure people that the economy would be able to regain steam. "Try to develop new types of candles to cater to different cultures, which would capture big market share," Wen said during avisit to Qingdao Kingking Group, the world's second-largest candle maker. During a visit to Haier, the country's largest appliance maker, the premier praised its sales promotion and services in rural areas as a factor stimulating rural consumption, which he said would help ease the impact of the global financial crisis. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) visits Yatai electric appliances supermarket that sells subsidized household appliances in Jimo City under Qingdao, a coastal city in east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 2, 2009. Wen visited companies, markets, communities and rural areas in Qingdao on Jan. 1-2. China kicked off a subsidized household appliance program in December 2007 and decided on Wednesday to further expand subsidies for farmers' purchases from Feb. 1 to boost consumption. "How Haier is dealing with the global crisis tells us there is opportunity amid crisis, and the opportunity lies in innovation, which will not only help shake off the impact of the crisis but also upgrade enterprises," Wen noted. He said the country would increase subsidies to 15 billion yuan (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in 2009 from last year's 9 billion yuan. It would increase domestic spending by more than 100 billion yuan. The policy would remain in force for at least five years, which would increase appliance sales by more than 500 billion yuan, Wen added. He highlighted the importance of innovation and called for enterprises to design and develop high-quality, low-cost products for rural markets. Wen also went to a village in Shandong Province to talk with rural families. He reassured villagers that apart from the expanded subsidies, the government also encouraged enterprises to purchase old appliances and allow farmers to trade in older models for new ones as a move to sustain domestic demand. The premier reiterated "confidence" wherever he went, saying a solid material foundation, stable financial system, abundant cash flow, large domestic markets, appropriate macroeconomic policies and others steps boosted confidence. Wen said the State Council, or Cabinet, is drawing up two major plans. One involves 10 programs to expand demand, further detailing and specifying the 10 stimulus measures kicked out last year. The other includes the readjustment and improvement of 10 pillar industries. Plans for the development of steel industry and automobile industry have been rolled out and others are under way.
Lhasa, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Four media organizations from China's neighboring countries will be invited for the first time to cover the annual session of the People's Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region to be held on Jan. 14. The plenary session of the Regional Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference to be held on Jan. 12 will also be open to foreign press. According to a press conference held by the two sessions on late Saturday, the invitations to the four foreign media were an effort to "let the world know better about a real and new Tibet through an objective visual angle." Names of the foreign media organizations were not specified. Tibet authorities also revealed that they will invite diplomats with Nepal's consulate general to Lhasa, capital of the autonomous region, to attend the opening and closing ceremonies of the sessions. There will be nearly 200 journalists from 16 media organizations home and abroad to report the annual sessions this year, the press conference was told. At the two sessions, report on the work of the regional government will be discussed, as well as local budgets and plans for social and economic developments.
JAKARTA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Monday afternoon, calling on the two countries to step up partnership and tackle the international financial crisis. Li said that the development of cooperation between China and Indonesia, both as important developing countries in the region, serves to the significant purpose to promote peace and stability in the region and the world. Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (L) meets with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (R) in Jakarta, Indonesia, Dec. 22, 2008. Li highlighted the growth momentum of the bilateral cooperation in infrastructure and energy sectors, citing the Suramadu bridge being constructed by the Chinese company in Surabaya as a symbol of the bilateral cooperation. Li said the two nations share huge potential for cooperation, noting that China will support and encourage the Chinese companies to participate in Indonesia's infrastructure construction, share successful experience on domestic economic development. Li also called on Indonesia to intensify exchange and dialogue so as to tackle the current international financial crisis. Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (L1) meets with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (R1) in Jakarta, Indonesia, Dec. 22, 2008. Susilo welcomed Li's visit and recognized the rapid development of Indonesia-China relations since the two nations forged strategic partnership in 2005. He also voiced his appreciation of the success of Beijing Olympic Games, highlighting the sports event as a pride for the Asian people. The development of China is not only conducive to the Indonesia-China cooperation, but also of great significance to the common prosperity in the region and world as well, he said. The Indonesian president also expressed his gratitude for China's help in the country's economic development, suggesting that the two countries work closer and boost bilateral cooperation. The Chinese Vice Premier also addressed a welcoming luncheon hosted by the Indonesian business community on Monday. He told the entrepreneurs from 33 Indonesian provincial districts that the two-way trade is expected to exceed 30 billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2008, an objective previously set to be realized in 2010, and Chinese government is willing to make joint efforts with the Indonesian business community to expand the fields and promote the level of the bilateral cooperation.
CAIRO, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Mahmoud Mohamed Nazef, Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang arrived here on Wednesday afternoon for an official visit to Egypt. "I believe my visit will promote the China-Egypt strategic partnership of cooperation to a higher level," Li said in a written speech upon arrival at the airport. He noted that China attaches great importance to developing relations with Egypt and is ready to make joint efforts with the Egyptian side to consolidate the traditional friendship, deepen the strategic partnership of cooperation and enhance coordination in international and regional issues with Egypt. Visiting Chinese Vice-Premier Li Keqiang is greeted by Chinese people on his arrival at an airport in Cairo, capital of Egypt, Dec. 24, 2008. During his four-day visit, Li is expected to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and hold talks with Nazef on bilateral relations with the Arab world and Africa, and regional, international issues. Egypt is the second leg of Li's first overseas trip since he took office as vice premier in March. The trip has brought him to Indonesia and will bring him to Kuwait. Among his entourages are senior foreign affairs, development, commercial and banking officials.
BEIJING, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Many Chinese received a smaller bonus this year because of the global financial crisis and decided to tighten their belts - but they still let their hair down for the traditional Spring Festival. The freezing weather and slowdown in economic growth did not affect Chinese people's festivities, with supermarkets and shopping malls crowded with shoppers seeking goods for the Spring Festival celebration. Even dairy products, which have experienced shrinking sales because of the melamine scandal, were selling. Milk powder products of domestic brands have reappeared on the shelves, a Xinhua reporter found in Wal-Mart at Xuanwumen, Beijing. "This is the safest period for dairy products as the government has intensified quality supervision and inspection after the scandal," said saleswoman Qiao Xinhong. Many Chinese people like to buy boxed milk or yogurt for family reunions or as gifts to friends and relatives during the holiday. Dairy products, however, were only one part of people's shopping list, and snacks with wider varieties, clothes, jewellery and home appliances were also popular. The week-long Spring Festival holiday, which starts from Sunday, is China's closest equivalent to the West's Christmas shopping season. According to the Ministry of Commerce, sales at the country's major retailers on Thursday were 2.4 times as much as that on December 31. China's real retail sales growth in December accelerated 0.8 percentage points from November to 17.4 percent, according to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Thursday. Retail sales jumped by 21.6 percent last year to 10.8 trillion yuan (1.6 trillion U.S. dollars), which was 4.8 percentage points higher than 2007. The booming Chinese market has become more attractive to foreign retail giants, who have suffered from weak demand caused by the global financial crisis. "Although the global financial crisis has weighed on China's economy, the fundamental of the country's economy remains unchanged and we are very optimistic about the prospects for the Chinese market," Britain's largest retailer Tesco told Xinhua in an email. Sales in the rural market, which is believed to have the great potential to boost domestic demand, has reported month-on-month increases since May. November retail sales in rural areas rose 18.3 percent, 8.2 percentage points higher compared with the same period of 2007 and for the first time surpassed urban consumption growth. Wei Wanqian, a farmer in eastern China's Shandong Province, was busy with the last-minute preparations to celebrate the Spring Festival. He bought a new tractor earlier this month. "Boosting domestic demand should be the government's major taskof economic work," said Zuo Xiaolei, senior analyst at the Beijing-based Galaxy Securities. "Effective boosting measures along with the improvement of social security system will accelerate the consumption growth by two to three percentage points this year," Zuo said. The State Council, or the Cabinet, has taken an array of measures to enhance domestic consumption. These included improving the rural distribution network, promoting the subsidized home appliance program and boosting festival consumption. More detailed measures would come out in March during the delivery of the government work report, sources said. Although the impacts of global financial crisis were still unfolding, some positive signs surfaced in December economic date, officials and analysts have said. These included the figures on money supply, consumption and industrial output. Whether the "positive changes" represented a trend was unclear, NBS director Ma Jiantang said.
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BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao has urged to implement the responsibility system which was designed 10 years ago for the building of a clean government and improvement of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) work style. In his instructions for a teleconference held here on Monday to mark the tenth anniversary of the issuance of the responsibility system by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Hu, also the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said the responsibility system is fundamental for further pushing forward the building of a clean government, improvement of the Party's work style and the anti-corruption drive. Hu said that the Party committees and governments at all levels had made remarkable achievements in improving the Party's work style, building a clean government and the anti-corruption drive in the past 10 years, but must be aware of the problems still existing. He urged Party committees and governments of all levels to study and implement the essence of the 17th Party Congress and make strenuous efforts to gear up the improvement of the Party's work style, the building of a clean government and the anti-corruption drive. Hu called for seriously carrying out the responsibility system, making substantial efforts to push forward the building of a mechanism for punishing and preventing corruption, further enhancing the ability of resolving the outstanding problems in improving the Party's work style and building a clean government so as to provide a favorable political guarantee for promoting scientific development and social harmony. In addition to studying Hu's instructions, the participants in the teleconference also shared their experiences on the anti-corruption drive over the past 10 years. Addressing the teleconference, He Guoqiang, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and Secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, talked about how to implement the responsibility system by strengthening supervision and check on the implementation of the Party lines and policies so as to ensure the smooth implementation of Party's orders.
BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's top economic planning agency on Monday said it would raise the minimum purchasing price for wheat by as much as 15.3 percent starting next year. The move by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) aims to boost rural income and grain output. The country, with a population of more than 1.3 billion, relies mainly on domestic production for food. By hiking grain purchasing prices the NDRC hopes to motivate farmers to increase agricultural production. The government's minimum purchasing price for white wheat next year will be 0.87 yuan (12.7 U.S. cents) per 500 grams, 13 percent higher than prices in 2008. In addition, prices for red and mixed wheat will be 0.83 yuan per 500 grams, up 15.3 percent. The agency also pledged to further increase subsidies for agricultural production materials, machinery and crop seeds. It will also increase commercial reserves of fertilizer to help ensure market supply and price stability. The NDRC would like to expand China's grain production capacity by 50 million tons. On Oct. 11, China's Ministry of Agriculture predicted an increase in grain output for the fifth consecutive year. According to estimates from the State Grain Information Center, this year's grain output should reach 511.5 million tons, up 10 million tons from 2007. The central government allocated 102.86 billion yuan (15.1 billion U.S. dollars) in agriculture subsidies this year, doubling the money from 2007. The NDRC also plans to raise the minimum purchasing price for rice next year, although it did not give further details.
BEIJING, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body, called on the country's private enterprises to play an active role in economic growth. Jia, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the private sector should step up efforts on the development mode shift and optimize product structures during a research tour in the eastern Zhejiang Province from Nov. 7 to 10. Jia Qinglin (L), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC), talks with an employee with Huayi Electric Apparatus Group(HEAG) in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, on Nov. 9, 2008. Jia made an inspection in Zhejiang on Nov.7-10He told non-public companies to make full use of the opportunity of the government's decision to boost domestic consumption in the coming years. The government on Sunday announced it would launch a stimulus package estimated at 4 trillion yuan (570 billion U.S. dollars) to be spent over the next two years to finance programs in 10 major areas, such as low-income housing, rural infrastructure, water, electricity, transport, the environment and technological innovation. Jia said over the past three decades the private sector had made important contributions to China's economic development, technology innovation, job creation and other areas. He added that they should enhance innovation capabilities and sharpen competitive edges to better cope with adverse global economic conditions. He urged on local governments to earnestly implement favorable policies for private companies, help enhance their risk management capabilities and create a sound development environment for them.
BEIJING, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- China Saturday expressed "serious concerns" over India's anti-subsidy investigation on sodium nitrite on Jan. 14 and probe into the special safeguard measure of sodium carbonate on Jan. 16. Following bilateral consultations, China has urged domestic businesses to contact their Indian peers and solve trade issues through talks and cooperation, Yao Jian, spokesman of the Ministry of Commerce, said in a statement. But India didn't respond to Chinese efforts and launched its first anti-subsidy probe over Chinese-made sodium nitrite, Yao said. "China expresses dissatisfaction over it," he noted. China also expressed resolute opposition to India's probe into the special safeguard measure of sodium carbonate, the spokesman stated. The probe not only hurts the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese businesses, but has negative impact on the stable bilateral trade relations, Yao said. The current global financial crisis has serious impact on the economies worldwide and all nations need to boost cooperation in fighting the crisis, he said. China hoped that India could show prudence and restraint in using trade remedies, as trade protectionism could only add to the grim world trade situation. He added that China and India should step up consultations and promote cooperation among industries from the two developing nations.