29/03/2020
- Chinese president is fighting ‘two tough battles’ to reboot industry and defeat Covid-19, Xinhua says
- Choice of industrial powerhouse for official visit shows the importance Xi gives to reviving the economy, observers say
Chinese President Xi Jinping chats to workers and officials at Ningbo port in east China on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua
visited the industrial powerhouse of Zhejiang province on Sunday in a move state media described as a clear message the country was ready to get the economy back on track amid the “new normal” of dealing with the coronavirus.
The trip, to Ningbo – one of the world’s busiest ports and a trade hub for eastern China – was Xi’s first outside Beijing since he visited Wuhan, the initial epicentre of the Covid-19 outbreak, earlier in the month.
As well as a visiting the port, he spoke to workers at an industrial zone for car part manufacturers, where he learned about the latest efforts to restart production, Xinhua said in a brief report.
The visit came after two months of almost total lockdown in many parts of the country that disrupted businesses, transport and people’s daily lives, and ground the economy to a near standstill.
While local transmissions of the coronavirus in China appear to be under control, Beijing has implemented strict measures to prevent imported cases, including slashing international flights and banning most foreigners from entering the country.
In a separate report, Xinhua said Xi’s visit sent “a clear message” that China was resuming its industrial production and social activities, and described the fight against the coronavirus as the “new normal”.
Reviving the economy and battling a deadly disease were Xi’s “two tough battles”, it said.
Xi’s choice of destination was a clear message that restarting the economy is a top priority. Photo: Xinhua
Zhejiang is something of a power base for Xi, who spent nearly five years there during his climb through the ranks of the Communist Party.
One of the country’s biggest trading hubs, the province generated 3 trillion yuan (US$423.2 billion) in foreign trade last year, or more than 13 per cent of the national total, according to official figures.
“It’s a highly export-oriented economy … which has made it crucial not only to China’s development plan but also to safeguarding the stability of the global supply chain,” Xinhua said.
Observers said Xi’s visit was evidence of Beijing’s determination to get the economy back up and running as soon as possible.
Zhao Xijun, an economics professor at Renmin University, said Ningbo was a key part of the export economy and a base for many local and foreign entrepreneurs.
“It is a clear signal that China, after getting domestic infections under control, is now prioritising economic growth,” he said.
“It also shows the country will keep developing its economy and opening up its markets.”
But hopes of a quick recovery for the Chinese economy have been dashed by the spread of the coronavirus across Europe and the United States, causing a sharp decline in demand for Chinese goods.
Xi spent five years in Zhejiang while climbing the ranks of the Communist Party. Photo: Xinhua
In a meeting on Friday, the Communist Party’s Politburo said it would step up macroeconomic policy adjustments and pursue a more proactive fiscal policy while optimising measures to control the coronavirus to speed up the restoration of production, doing whatever it could to “minimise the losses caused by the epidemic”.
“China has successfully reopened much of its economy from the extremes of the coronavirus lockdown, but now faces a new problem: an impending collapse in demand for its exports as its customers go into lockdowns of their own,” Gavekal Dragnomics said in a research report.
“That shock to industry and manufacturing employment means that China will not enjoy the hoped-for V-shaped recovery in growth.”
Source: SCMP
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12/03/2020
BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) — China’s determination to achieve the goal of poverty elimination remains unwavering despite the impact from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to Liu Yongfu, director of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.
About 3 million more migrant workers from the poverty-stricken areas have returned to their jobs last week, said Liu. He added that one-third of the poverty-relief projects had resumed operation as of March 6, and resumption will be accelerated.
The country’s poverty alleviation tasks are near completion, as the number of impoverished people fell to 5.51 million at the end of 2019 from 98.99 million at the end of 2012, and the number of poverty-stricken counties fell to 52 in 2020.
Guidance on establishing the poverty-relief supervision and aid mechanism will be released soon to prevent people from returning to poverty after being lifted out of it, according to Liu.
Measures should be taken to ensure the quality of compulsory education as well as develop vocational, higher and pre-school education in impoverished areas to eliminate poverty from the roots, he said.
Efforts to relieve poverty will not be stopped, even after absolute poverty is eradicated, said Liu, stressing that the country would then bridge the development gap and realize common prosperity.
Liu also noted that a census targeting poor people will be launched this year to ensure the data authenticity and accuracy of the achievements of the poverty alleviation tasks.
He also praised the help from Hong Kong in the fight against poverty. Nanjiang county in southwestern China’s Sichuan province has lifted all of the poor populations out of poverty last year, with parts of the contributions made by the government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and all walks of life in Hong Kong.
Source: Xinhua
Posted in achieve goal, China's, COVID-19, determination, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, Nanjiang county, novel coronavirus disease, poverty alleviation, poverty elimination, sichuan province, State Council, Uncategorized |
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19/06/2019
BEIJING, June 18 (Xinhua) — China on Tuesday said its determination to maintain the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is unwavering and is willing to continue to make efforts for the full and effective implementation of the JCPOA.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks when meeting the press after his meeting with Syrian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Walid Mualem.
Calling on all parties to jointly promote the alleviation of Iranian nuclear issue and the situation in the Gulf region, instead of letting it get worse, even slipping into conflicts, Wang urged all parties to firmly maintain the deal.
Wang said ensuring the full and effective implementation of the JCPOA was not only a decision made by the UN Security Council but also the only effective way to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, which is related to the common interests of the international community.
He urged all parties to maintain rationality and restraint, rather than to “open Pandora’s box”, noting that the United States should change its “maximum pressure” policy.
“There is as no basis for unilateralism in international law,” said Wang, adding that unilateralism will create greater crises instead of solving problems.
Noting the International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that Iran has fulfilled its obligations under the JCPOA for 15 consecutive times, Wang said China hoped that Iran could make careful decisions and would not abandon the JCPOA easily.
He also urged other parties to respect the reasonable demands of the Iranian side and take active measures to maintain the balance of rights and obligations under the JCPOA.
Wang noted that China has recently conducted close coordination and cooperation with related parties, resulting in important progress in the reconstruction of the Arak heavy water reactor facility.
“The Chinese side is willing to continue making efforts for the full and effective implementation of the JCPOA. At the same time, we will firmly safeguard our own legitimate rights and interests,” Wang said.
Source: Xinhua
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