Chinese vice Premier Wang Qishan delivers a keynote speech at the 12th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), opened in Xiamen, a coastal city in southwest China's Fujian Province, Sept. 8, 2008. [Wei Peiquan/Xinhua]

Wang Qishan acknowledged the headwinds that China had encountered, including slowing external demand, higher energy prices, the fierce snowstorms that hit the south in January and the Sichuan earthquake in May. But he said the government has taken a series of measures in a timely fashion.

Wang Qishan said, "China's gross domestic product rose 0.4 percent in the first half of this year, compared with the same period last year. Growth in consumption, investments and exports is getting more balanced. We are confident that the country will conquer the challenges to maintain fast and stable growth for the economy and to curb inflation."

Wang also said overseas investments are an important driving force in China's economic growth. Over the past 16 years, China has led all developing countries in terms of being a target for overseas capital.

Wang Qishan said, "China will continue to carry out its opening-up policy. It will improve policies on overseas capital usage and outbound investment, and give more space for the development of overseas-held companies in China."

The premier added that overseas investments will be encouraged in the country's high-tech, modern agriculture, energy conservation and environmental protection industries, as well as the traditional northeast industrial base and western regions. But investments in high-energy-consuming and high-emissions industries will be limited.

(CCTV September 10, 2008)