China Econ Growth Not A Threat To Region -Official
Addressing hundreds of corporate executives and political leaders Saturday at the World Economic Forum annual meeting, Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju assured his audience that China's stunning economic growth will not trigger any designs on other countries in the region.
"China will by no means pose a threat to others. The earth is a common home to all of us," he said.
China's economic revolution has caused security concerns in Washington, which is leaning on the E.U. to not lift its ban on arms sales to China for fear of a shake-up of the military balance in East Asia.
Huang said China's per capita income will triple over the next 15 years. He expressed confidence that aiming for annual growth rates of 8% in the years ahead will not cause the economy to overheat.
By 2020, Huang said, China's per capita income will likely top US$3,000, triple the 2003 figure.
China's economy grew by 9.5% in 2004 - the fastest rate in eight years, and well over forecasts by both the government and analysts.
At another World Economic Forum panel, Li Ruogu, the deputy governor of the People's Bank of China, said, "We are confident we can keep China's growth rate at 8% a year" in the years ahead without causing the economy to overheat.
Li said China "was gradually moving" to stop pegging the yuan to the U.S. dollar.
Outside China, many see that fixed exchange rate as undervaluing the Chinese currency, making Chinese exports unreasonably cheap.
Li dismissed that, saying, "Leave the issue to the Chinese government. Outsiders don't know exactly what is going on in China."
He said Beijing was moving forward with economic reforms, including in the financial sector.
Not everyone in China is benefiting from the country's tremendous economic expansion. Liu Jian, head of China's State Council Office on Poverty Alleviation, said tens of millions of Chinese in cities and rural areas are mired in poverty.
While urban incomes in China now average about US$1,000 a year, in the countryside incomes still average just over US$300.
China's stunning growth has led to fears of runaway inflation and power shortages as the country has become one of the world's biggest oil importers. Its crude oil imports jumped by 35% in 2004.
Huang acknowledged there were dangers of backlash, but said his government was working on measures to reduce energy consumption, boost environmental protections and "accelerate institutional reforms" to encourage more free enterprise and safeguard foreign investments.
"The 21st century offers more opportunities than challenges," he said. "We have every confidence in the future of China."
预计中国人均收入到2020年将增长两倍
中国政府一名高级官员周六表示，中国的人均收入在未来15年内将增长两倍，但不会对其他国家产生负面影响。
中国副总理黄菊在世界经济论坛(World Economic Forum)上表示，中国绝不会对别国构成威胁。
黄菊在向数百名企业管理人士和政府领导人发表的讲话中称，中国对任何国家都没有不良企图。
他说，地球是所有人的共同家园。
黄菊称，到2020年，中国的人均收入有可能超过3,000美元，达到2003年水平的3倍。
中国经济去年的增长率超过了9%，达到8年来最高水平，也超出了政府和经济学家的预期。中国政府曾预计2004年的经济增长率为8%。
由于中国已经成为世界上最大的原油进口国之一，中国惊人的经济增长速度引起了人们对中国通货膨胀失控和能源短缺的担心。中国2004年的原油进口量增长了35%。
黄菊承认，这种高速增长确实有可能带来负面影响，但他表示，中国政府正在采取措施缩减能源消费，促进环境保护，加速机构改革，以鼓励更多的自由企业，并保护外来投资。
他说，21世纪带来的更多的是机遇，而不是挑战。中国政府对中国的未来有十足的信心。
黄菊称，中国在2004年和2005年继续进行市场改革，希望能逐步放弃钉住美元的固定汇率。
他表示，中国没有具体的时间表，但他表示要进行改革，改变中国四大国有商业银行的股东结构。
黄菊还表示，中国将兑现加入世界贸易组织(World Trade Organization)时的承诺，扩大对外开放领域。
他说，世界上所有的企业都能在中国实现自己伟大的抱负。
