Chinese minister rejects charges of protectionism
Bo Xilai, China's commerce minister, has rejected criticism that the country is turning protectionist, saying Beijing believes the only way to ensure development is through greater competition and an open economy.
Mr Bo, speaking at a dinner hosted by European business leaders in Beijing last night, said central and local governments, and increasingly the Chinese people understood that greater wealth resulted from openness. "I don't think there should be such worries [about economic nationalism], because in the past 28 years [of openness] we have made such progress," he said. "Why should we abandon good policies?"
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"Deng Xiaoping [the former Chinese leader] said this would not change for 50 to 70 years. If there is to be any change, China will become more open."
Mr Bo did not address in detail any of the growing number of complaints from foreign companies across an array of industries, which have seen their attempts to buy into Chinese companies, or enter the local market, blocked or delayed.
The apparent backlash against foreigners runs counter to the trend of greater openness of the Chinese economy and also its booming trade.
Mr Bo, who is pushing for a promotion to vice-premier at next year's Communist party congress, has lifted his public profile as an eloquent and forceful defender of China's trade interests.
He said China's courage "to jump into the sea" of greater global competition should be contrasted with attitudes of some more established countries, which he did not name. "Some of the older athletes swimming in the river are getting a bit tired and are falling on to the banks of protectionism."
Mr Bo acknowledged China needed to do more work to protect the intellectual property rights of both local and foreign companies, but he asserted that much had already been done.
"The snag is that it is hard to find out the hideouts of these criminals in a timely manner, just like our American friends find it hard to find terrorists," he said.
Foreign complaints about nascent protectionism in China have been fuelled by the trade surplus, which could double this year from just over $100bn (�78bn, ￡52bn) in 2005. Zeng Qinghong, a vice-president, said in an interview published yesterday that China's foreign exchange reserves had reached a record $954.5bn at the end of July.
薄熙来：中国不会实行贸易保护主义
中国商务部长薄熙来驳斥了有关中国正在转向贸易保护主义的批评，他表示，中国政府认为，确保发展的唯一途径，就是鼓励竞争和实现开放型经济。
在欧洲商业领袖昨晚在北京主持的晚宴上，薄熙来发表演讲称，中国中央政府、地方政府以及越来越多的中国人明白，更大的财富来自于开放。他表示，不应该有这种关于经济民族主义的担忧，因为在过去28年的开放中，中国已取得了如此之大的进步。为什么要放弃好政策？
他回顾说，前任中国领导人邓小平表示，这种政策在50至70年内不会变。如果有变化，那也是中国变得更加开放。
薄熙来并没有针对外国投资者的抱怨作详细说明。很多行业的外资公司发现，它们入股中国企业或进入中国市场的努力要么受阻，要么遭遇拖延，对此，他们的抱怨之辞越来越多。
这种明显的抵制外资的做法，有悖于中国经济更加开放、贸易活动日益繁荣的趋势。中国于2001年加入世界贸易组织(WTO)，推动了中国的贸易发展。
作为中国贸易利益雄辩有力的维护者，薄熙来的公众形象已有所提升。
他表示，中国“跃入大海”参与更广泛国际竞争的勇气，与一些老牌国家形成鲜明对比。他没有具体点出哪些国家。他表示，河里某些老运动员正日渐疲惫，老想爬到贸易保护主义的岸上。
薄熙来承认，中国需要做更多工作，保护本土和外资公司的知识产权，但他声称已取得重大成就。
他表示，障碍在于难以及时找出这些罪犯的藏匿地点，正如“美国朋友”难以找到恐怖分子一样。
