国内英语新闻:World Bank applauds China's economic achievements, reform ambition

BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- World Bank Group (WBG) President Jim Yong Kim has praised the Chinese government's efforts to stabilize growth and deepen reforms, an official statement said on Friday.

During his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday, Kim applauded measures taken by the Chinese government to stabilize its capital and money markets, according to the statement.

Kim was quoted as saying that he sent three main messages during his three-day visit to China.

First, he believed that the steps taken by the Chinese government to stabilize the capital market are appropriate.

Second, the seven percent growth of the Chinese economy in the second quarter is a big share of the overall global growth and could well be the envy of other countries.

Third, the Chinese government has a solid commitment to continuing reforms.

During the meeting, Li said that China would continue to press ahead with reforms to drive the Chinese economy and ensure that it operates within an appropriate range.

CONTINUED REFORMS

Former World Bank President Robert Zoellick spoke positively of China's recent efforts to stabilize the capital market. Kim, Zoellick's successor, showed a clearer stance when he met with Li.

"I share my predecessor's view and appreciate your efforts," Kim told the Chinese premier.

Kim was the first guest from an international financial institution to visit China after the fluctuations in the Chinese stock market.

"I am deeply impressed by China's commitment to continuing reforms while responding to the market fluctuations," said the WBG president.

Li made it clear to Kim that the recent measures taken by the Chinese government to stabilize the capital and money markets are aimed at creating a fair, open, transparent, and long-term, stable environment for the market-based reforms.

China will continue to advance reforms to drive the Chinese economy and ensure that it operates within an appropriate range, said Li.

HEALTH CARE COOPERATION

An important part of Kim's China visit is to discuss with three Chinese government departments ways to advance health care reform in the country.

According to Kim, China has made great achievements in health care reform in recent years, and is in the middle of a critical period of opportunities.

World Bank experts have made a field study in the city of Sanming, Fujian Province, where an open and transparent system has been set up to redistribute medical revenues, and where effective communication has been carried out with all stakeholders, including members of the general public.

This has enabled hospitals in Sanming to focus more on providing better and high-quality services to the public instead of generating more revenues, according to the statement.

Kim said he believed that China has a unique opportunity to build a high-quality and low-cost health care system to benefit its 1.3 billion people.

He expressed the WBG's readiness to offer financial support and help make and implement plans to gradually extend successful experience to more places in China.

Li thanked Kim and WBG experts for making local studies in China's provinces and cities. He added that a major goal of China's modernization drive is to make the Chinese people healthier, which in turn will help drive sustained economic growth.

The premier reaffirmed the readiness of Chinese government departments to work closely with the WBG in this area, said the statement.

According to Li, China is working on its own solution to health care reform, a tough issue for all countries indeed.

Li said the aim is to put in place a widely accessible health care system that benefits everyone, that allows diseases to be prevented effectively or treated in the early stage.

The premier said that if this could be done in a big developing country with 1.3 billion people, it will be a miracle in human history.

FUTURE GROWTH

Appropriate measures have been taken by the Chinese government to keep market expectations stable and ensure sound development of the market, said the statement.

One day prior to the meeting between Kim and Li, official figures for the first six months of the Chinese economy were released. China's economic situation was also discussed during the meeting.

Li said that the government's efforts to strengthen targeted regulation and structural reform have begun to pay off since the latter half of last year.

In the second quarter, GDP grew by seven percent, and other major economic indicators also picked up growth in recent months. Given the sluggish world economy, the achievement is truly not easy, said the statement.

The premier said China will work to ensure that its economy remains stable and continues to make progress. Reforms and greater openness will be promoted. The unique strength of the Chinese economy, its resilience, great potential and ample space for adjustment will be fully tapped.

Since last year, China has taken measures to promote mass entrepreneurship and innovation by streamlining administration and delegating government power.

As a result, every day, over 10,000 new enterprises are being set up, and surveyed unemployment rate has been kept at 5 to 5.1 percent.

"When employment is stable, economic performance will be stable. And that in turn will provide the necessary environment and the basis to further advance health care and other reforms," noted Li.

The premier concluded by emphasizing that on the road ahead, there might be risks and challenges and the government will never get complacent.

In face of challenges, China will take appropriate measures to keep market expectations stable, according to Li.

To secure sound development, Li said, "we need to deepen reforms so that market forces play a decisive role in resources allocation. This is not at odds with a better play of the role of the government."