OPINION> Commentary
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OPINION> Commentary
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Return to business
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-01-21 07:47
Premier Wen Jiaobao will start a trip to Europe a week from now. He is scheduled to meet leaders in Switzerland, Germany, Spain and the UK, and join the Davos World Economic Forum. In the thick of the financial crisis, particularly with all the bad news about the new losses of the world's banking and financial service industries, China and Europe should work more closely and in a more focused way to contribute to the stability of global business. This should also be the right kind of help to US President Barack Obama when the world continues to wait for perhaps some time for a full range of policies carrying the new president's brand. The Davos conference may lend the premier a forum to present China's plan to boost its economic performance, as the scenes from other parts of the world tend to be generally bleak. The financial crisis recognizes no national borders. But China's difficulties - declines in its export and employment - are largely of a different sort. They are more about domestic readjustment. The nation is equipped with both financial reserves and confidence, which are mutually supportive, to fulfill its role to sustain Asia's economic growth, as well as the world's. For that purpose, China has already announced a number of stimulus policies worth a total of $586 billion. There is still room for introducing even more, as the premier has already said. The audience in Davos, from Europe and beyond, would be interested in learning about China's moves. China also would be perfectly willing to listen to their collaborative suggestions. However, it may be noted that Premier Wen's trip would be the first time for Chinese and European leaders to talk to each other face-to-face since China pulled out of a meeting between the two sides that was scheduled for last December after French President Sarkozy's meeting with the Dalai Lama. A meeting with the French head of state is still missing from the Chinese delegation's itinerary. Incidentally, Jan 27, or the very day the premier sets off for Europe, will be the 45th anniversary of the Chinese-French diplomatic relations. The Chinese have always cherished warm memories about the experience that they shared with France back then. But counting on China's co-operation while ignoring its core interests signals neither respectful diplomacy nor fair business. China really cannot, like any other country with self-respect, be expected to put up with such an affront.
(China Daily 01/21/2009 page8) |
