Home / News Type Content Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
Wen: China's Development an Opportunity for E. Asia
Adjust font size:

China's economic development not only benefits its 1.3 billion people, but also provides more opportunities for other East Asian countries, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

In his speech delivered to the East Asia Summit Leaders Dialogue, entitled "China's Peaceful Development: An Opportunity for East Asia", Wen said that with imports growing by an average annual rate of over 15 percent in recent years, China is the world's third largest and Asia’s largest importer.

 

In 2004, China's import from other Asian countries and areas grew by 35 percent over 2003 to about US$370 billion, and with growing domestic demands, China will import from other Asian countries more than 2 trillion dollars of goods in the next five years, Wen said.

 

Overseas investment by Chinese companies has also registered an annual growth of over 20 percent, with 80 percent made in Asia. As Chinese companies continue to expand in business, China will contribute more significantly to Asia's economic growth, he said.

 

China is committed to maintaining Asia's financial stability. Back in the 1997 financial crisis, China resisted pressure to devalue its currency, thus contributing to Asia's economic stability, Wen noted.

 

Over a decade ago, China set itself the goal of reforming the renminbi exchange rate regime, namely, establishing a managed floating exchange rate regime based on market supply and demand.

 

China took a crucial step in reforming the renminbi exchange rate regime in July. Instead of pegging the renminbi to just the US dollar, China adopted a managed floating exchange rate regime based on market supply and demand under which the renminbi is adjusted with reference to a basket of currencies, and the exchange rate was also properly adjusted and floated, he added.

 

By introducing this reform and adjustment, China has taken into consideration both its own economic and financial stability and the impact of such reform and adjustment on the economic and financial stability of China's neighbors, the whole region and the world at large, Wen said.

 

China will also take an active part in energy cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit, Wen said, adding that China is ready to strengthen energy dialogue and cooperation with other countries to ensure global energy security and stability.

 

Being both a major energy producer and a major energy consumer, China meets over 90 percent of its overall energy demand with domestic supply, and will adhere to the policy of meeting its energy need mainly through domestic supply, he said.

 

China will promote both energy development and energy conservation, and give top priority to energy conservation, Wen said, adding: "Our goal is to cut the use of energy per unit of gross domestic product by about 20 percent by 2010, and achieve energy conservation and efficiency for the whole country."

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2005)

 

 

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Comment
Pet Name
Anonymous
China Archives
Related >>
- East Asia Community Taking Shape
- E. Asia Forum, Community Discussed
- China Plays Leading Role in Advocating Free Trade
- East Asia Economies Rebound with 6% Growth
- China Supports ASEAN's Leading Role in East Asia Cooperation
Most Viewed >>
- World's longest sea-spanning bridge to open
- Yao out for season with stress fracture in left foot
- 141 seriously polluting products blacklisted
- China starts excavation for world's first 3G nuclear plant
- Irresponsible remarks on Hu Jia case opposed 
- 'The China Riddle'
- China, US agree to step up constructive,cooperative relations
- FIT World Congress: translators on track
- Christianity popular in Tang Dynasty
- Factory fire kills 15, injures 3 in Shenzhen

Product Directory
China Search
Country Search
Hot Buys