WORLD> Global General
Vice FM: Unaware of G8 reserve currency request
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-07-02 13:14

BEIJING: The Vice Foreign Minister of China He Yafei said on Thursday he had not heard about reports that China had requested a debate about global reserve currencies.

Related readings:
 US seen backing climate target at G8
 Hu, Obama to meet at G8 meeting in Italy
 Hu to attend G8 leaders' dialogue
 Yuan may be reserve currency by 2020 - official
 BRIC mum on reserve currencies

Asked about the matter by a reporter during a news briefing, He said, "I have not heard that China has this request".

Sources told Reuters on Wednesday that Beijing has asked to debate proposals for a new global reserve currency at next week's Group of Eight summit in Italy and the issue could be referred to briefly in the summit statement.

He said that Beijing hoped the dollar, the main global reserve currency remained stable but added that China "of course" hoped for reserve currency diversification in the future.