China to Become World Economic Locomotive: Former Italian FM

Former Italian Foreign Minister Gianni de Michelis said Monday in Beijing that China would become the world's second-largest economic power in 20 years.

De Michelis made this comment at a symposium on the WTO and China's economy during the week-long Beijing International Hi-tech Expo.

He said China's entry into the WTO has helped it get into the world economic community and upgraded economic globalization.

De Michelis said that he was amazed that China has become the world's biggest market in terms of telecommunications, and predicted that the number of China's visitors to foreign countries would increase 10-fold in the next 20 years.

Meanwhile, he noted that after its entry into the WTO, China would probably face an energy supply problem, saying that China should attach more importance to it.

De Michelis is adviser to the Italian prime minister on world affairs, and has visited Beijing many times since 1979.

( May 28, 2002)