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China airs resolve to keep economy in good shape

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-14 23:43

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan(R) shakes hands with visiting US Senator Chuck Hagel in Beijing, October 14, 2008. [Xinhua]

BEIJING - China on Tuesday reaffirmed its resolve to keep its economy on track amid the global financial turmoil.

In a meeting with visiting US Senator Chuck Hagel, Vice Premier Wang Qishan said the financial crisis, triggered by the US credit crunch, had exerted a grave impact on the global financial market.

"As a responsible country, China has always valued the communication and cooperation with other nations to ensure world financial and economic stability."

Wang said China would make great efforts to keep its economy on the right track, which would be the country's greatest contribution to the world.

China had implemented and would continue measures to ensure the stability of finance, economy and the capital market, he said, referring to a package of new policies to spur economic growth.

The central bank cut interest rates on September 15 for the first time in six years.

The People's Bank of China, the central bank, announced the deposit and lending rates would be lowered by 0.27 percentage points and the reserve-requirement ratio would be reduced 0.5 percentage points starting October 15.

"With tools at our disposal, we are confident and capable of prevailing over the overall difficulties and challenges," Wang told Hagel.

He added the overall bilateral relations of the two countries had moved forward and become increasingly interdependent since forging diplomatic ties in 1979.

To promote China-US ties was in the fundamental interests of the two nations, he said.

Wang proposed the two deepen a strategic trust and take a candid and pragmatic approach in addressing differences. They should work more closely on economy, trade, investment, energy, environment and high-tech.

He also urged the United States to observe the three joint communiques, refrain from anything harmful to bilateral ties and the stability of the Taiwan Straits, so as to ensure the sound and steady progress of bilateral constructive cooperation.

As all nations were becoming more connected, Hagel, a Republican senator from Nebraska, said the stronger cooperation between the United States and China would help ensure world financial and economic stability.