The western anger over surging Chinese steel imports is
"unreasonable" and runs against the concept of globalization, Zhang
Xiaogang, Chairman of China Iron and Steel Association said
Sunday.
Zhang, also President of Anshan Iron and Steel Group
Corporation, one of China's biggest steel producer, said in an
interview with Xinhua that some western countries have been using
"double standards" when it comes to trade and competition in the
steel industry.
The rising steel production in China has been fueled by the
rapid economic development in China as well as global economic
recovery in recent years, said Zhang, who is attending an annual
meeting of International Iron and Steel Institute in Berlin.
The world's steel production rose by 8.8 percent last year and
China's steel production, even though still ranks the highest in
the world, has been growing slower than some countries like India,
said Zhang.
And China's steel production growth is expected to fall below 10
percent next year which is largely attributed to the recent
national policies to curb the overheating of Chinese steel
industry.
Western accusations that China is reaving world's resources are
"unacceptable," Zhang said.
European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries estimates
that Chinese steel imports into the European Union will amount to
10 million tons this year, double that of last year and some EU
officials have been complaining that these imports were
"threatening" the health of the European steel industry.
The rise in Chinese steel exports to Europe is mainly due to the
economic growth in the region, said Zhang.
And European companies, including the German car producer BMW,
have been happy to use Chinese steel products, the quality of which
is improving very fast, he said.
Meanwhile, Chinese steel did not come to Europe at the cost of
local steel producers, said Zhang.
Nearly all European steel manufacturers have steadily seen their
profits rising in recent years, he said.
In a time of globalization, everything should be done to promote
fair trade and competition, said Zhang.
Spending time on unnecessary spat is not helping, he said.
(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2007)
