Chinese vice Premier Wu Bangguo said on January 29 that China will stick to its reform and opening-up policy and actively participate in international economic cooperation and exchanges in accordance with the trend towards globalization.

�� Vice premier Wu made this remark at a special session on China at the 30th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum Saturday in Davos, Switzerland.

�� He said the Chinese economy has maintained a sound momentum for growth, in spite of the impact of the 1997 Asian financial crisis and devastating floods in 1998. Its GDP grew 7.8 percent in 1998 and 7.1 percent in 1999.

�� Wu Bangguo briefed the participants on China's strategic priorities: to continue economic restructuring and infrastructure construction, develop rural industries and small cities and towns, and develop the western part of China.

�� As to China's access to WTO, Vice Premier Wu said China will accelerate its opening-up in energy, transportation, communications and other infrastructure areas, and gradually provide more opportunities for foreign investment in the banking, insurance, tourism, retail business, foreign trade, legal consulting and other sectors.