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Premier Pledges Breakthroughs in Opening Once Entering WTO
Premier Zhu Rongji pledged in Berlin Friday more breakthroughs in China's opening to the world after the country joins World Trade Organization. ``China is a responsible country,'' he said. "We will keep our words, respect the rules of WTO and open our markets further.''
In a speech delivered to a German business gathering at the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce, the Chinese prime minister encouraged German business people to increase direct investment in China to improve Sino-German economic and trade.
He told more than 600 German business people at the gathering that "although there are various risks and difficulties on China's way to development, China is able to remove all difficulties and realize its great target of modernization.''
He said that after more than two years of deflation, China's economy has taken a "significant favourable turn'' this year.
However, the country's economy will change further, Zhu said.
"China will, while continuing to develop traditional industries, vigorously develop high and new-tech industries represented by information technology,'' he said.
Meanwhile, measures will be taken to improve agriculture and develop China's western areas.
He said China will make bigger strides in reforming its economic system and change government functions in the future.
"We will propel the fundamental reform of State enterprises, speed up the construction of a modern enterprise system and push joint-stock transformation for State enterprises,'' he said.
He added that China will work on its laws and regulations and strengthen macro-controls.
Meanwhile, PM Zhu Rongji and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder vowed Friday to improve relations. The two nations also signed an agreement on legislative exchanges, and it is the first such agreement the Chinese Government has signed with a foreign government.
The signing means China is willing to use German experience to help build itself into a country ruled by law, the Chinese premier said.
Zhu said co-operation has progressed through close political and economic contact since November, when Schroeder visited China.
Zhu expressed his appreciation for the German Government's stance on the one-China policy.
"In this regard, Germany has fulfilled its promise and kept its words,'' Zhu said. "We appreciate the German Government's decision not to sell arms to Taiwan and not to develop official relations with Taiwan.''
Schroeder said Germany is willing to help China modernize and develop China's west.
"Germany supports China's effort to join the World Trade Organization at the earliest possible date, and German business people are confident in expanding their investment and co-operation in China,'' he said.
The meeting was sincere and constructive, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.
After the talks, China and Germany signed six agreements worth billions of US dollars.
The other agreements cover trade, technology, infrastructure and a study on a magnetic monorail in Shanghai.
Zhu also met Wolfgang Thierse, president of the German Federal Assembly, yesterday.
Zhu said he hoped legislation departments of China and Germany can work together more. Thierse said his assembly supports the Chinese Government's one-China policy and hopes China unifies as soon as possible.
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