Zhu Rongji: China's Economy Is Well On TrackVisiting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said in Hague Wednesday that the whole national economy in China is well on the track and in an healthy circle.When meeting with Dutch businessmen, Zhu said some important changes has emerged in China's whole national economy since early this year. During the first six months, China's gross domestic product increased 8 percent compared with that of the same period last year, Zhu said adding that national economic benefits has showed remarkable rise since January. Addressing a group of representatives from Dutch corporates including Philips, Shell and AEGON, the Chinese premier pointed out that China's economy is advancing on the track of healthy circle as some economic indicators show. In China, there is a big growth in state revenue, foreign trade has a strong increase, domestic market is brisk and financial market is stable, Zhu told the Dutch CEOs. All these showed that China's economy has overcome the adverse impact out of the Asian financial crisis, he said. Now, China's national economy is keeping the growth momentum, the Chinese premier pointed out. However, China still needs to overcome difficulties and solve problems in economic life and to fully raise the level of modernization, said Zhu, who is also the dean of College of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University. As an economic expert, the premier said the Chinese government will carry out strategic adjustment in economic structure, implement all-around exploitation in China's western areas, further put into effect the strategies of nation-building through technology, education and sustainable development, continue in- depth reforms in the economic system, and speed up the pace of the opening-up process. In the first decade of the new century, Chinese economy will surely see greater and better development, and will have closer ties with the world economy, Zhu said. After meeting the Dutch CEOs, the Chinese premier attended a lunch meeting hosted by Dutch Queen Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard. Dutch Prime Minister Vim Kok and First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Affairs Annemarie Jorritsma-Lebbink also attended the banquet. They had relaxed talks during the dinner. Earlier this morning, Zhu met with Dutch upper house speaker Koethals Altes, lower house deputy speaker Frans Weisglas and some lawmakers in the parliament building in The Hague, the political center of the Netherlands. Zhu came to this country Tuesday after a visit to Luxembourg. The Netherlands is the Chinese premier's fourth leg of his trip of six European nations. He left the country for Rome this afternoon on an official visit to Italy. Zhu will also have official visits to Belgium and The European Union headquarters. The Chinese premier has also visited Bulgaria and Germany during his current Europe tour. |
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