Vice-Premier: Chinese economy healthy despite SARS ( 2003-07-08 09:25) (Xinhua) China had achieved major
success in the battle against SARS and the Chinese economy will continue to grow
in a sustainable, rapid and healthy way, Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan said Monday.
Zeng made the remark during his meeting with Stephen Newhouse, chairman of
Morgan Stanley International of the United States, and Morgan Stanley global
chief economist Stephen Roach in Zhongnanhai in Beijing Monday afternoon.
Zeng said the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) crisis had inevitably
had a certain negative impact on China's economy, but it had not changed the
fundamental fabric of the economy.
He said the Chinese government in the near future would focus on expanding
domestic demand, restructuring the economy, improving the balance of
development, deepening reform, increasing employment and raising living
standards.
He said that as the pace of growth increased, the Chinese economy would
continue to grow in a sustainable, rapid and healthy way.
Roach said that since the Asian financial crisis, the Chinese economy had
seen out various difficulties and demonstrated an outstanding ability to
withstand both internal and external challenges. He had a strong optimism on the
prospects of China's economy.
|