Visiting President Jiang Zemin said that China is confident and
capable of doubling its 2000 gross domestic product (GDP) by 2010.
Jiang made the remarks in a speech on Wednesday evening local time
at a banquet held by the Asia-Pacific Committee of German
Business.
Jiang arrived in Dresden, the capital of the Free State of Saxony,
at around 10 am local time Thursday.
On
the fourth day of Jiang's state visit to Germany, the Chinese
delegation was warmly received at the airport by members of the
local government and the public, led by Minister-President Kurt
Biedenkopf.
The Chinese delegation Thursday visited the Meissen porcelain
factory, which has been producing porcelain continuously since
1710.
At
Wednesday evening's Berlin banquet, Jiang recalled the development
of China's economy. He noted that, thanks to the country's
opening-up policy, China's GDP grew by 7.8 percent annually over
the past five years and its total volume of exports and imports
last year exceeded US$500 billion.
Jiang said that China, as a member of the World Trade Organization,
will strictly observe its commitments and gradually open up its
finance, insurance, telecommunications, trade and service
sectors.
The president also promised to improve China's investment
environment and guarantee a fair and effective judicial system.
Jiang said that the Chinese Government welcomed foreign
enterprises' participation in economic, scientific and
technological co-operation with China. He noted that China has rich
human resources and a huge potential market.
Turing to Sino-German economic relations, Jiang said that bilateral
cooperation in economics and technology substantially benefits both
sides.
Last year, bilateral trade was US$23.5 billion, a year-on-year
increase of 19.3 percent. The figure accounted for a third of
China's total trade volume with the European Union. There are more
than 2,700 German investment projects in China, with a total
contracted value of US$13.4 billion.
Jiang said that China is confident of the future prospects of
friendly bilateral relations and co-operation.
He
added that bilateral cooperation in economics and technology should
be further expanded because Germany's trade volume with China is
less than two percent of Germany's total foreign-trade volume.
Jiang said that China's strategy of developing its western regions
will bring Germany and other foreign countries new opportunities to
strengthen economic co-operation with China.
The Chinese president is scheduled to visit the Volkswagen car
factory Friday.
(China
Daily April 12, 2002)