Signed article on issues of Chinese economy and the Second CIIE by H.E. Dr. Xiao Jianguo, Chinese ambassador to Timor-Leste, published on Timor Post

　　2019年11月15日，驻东帝汶大使肖建国在东当地发行量最大的报纸《帝汶邮报》发表题为《2019年中国经济高质量发展，中东经贸合作稳步前行》的英文署名文章，介绍中国经济形势和第二届中国国际进口博览会情况。全文译文如下：

On 15th November 2019, Timor Post carried an article on issues of the current Chinese economy and the Second China International Import Expo by Ambassador Dr. Xiao Jianguo entitled "High-quality Development of China's Economy in 2019 Conducive to Progress in China Timor-Leste Economic and Trade Cooperation". The full text is as follows:

　　11月5日至10日，第二届中国国际进口博览会在上海召开，法国总统马克龙、牙买加总理霍尔尼斯、世贸组织总干事阿泽维多等政要出席。中国国家主席习近平出席开幕式，在主旨演讲中提出推动建设开放型世界经济的三点倡议和中国持续推进更高水平对外开放的五方面举措，发出“中国市场这么大，欢迎大家都来看看”的邀请，引发国际社会广泛关注和热议。第二届进博会共有181国家、地区和国际组织参会，达成成交意向2160项，累计意向成交711.3亿美元，比第一届增长23%，取得了丰硕的经贸合作成果。第二届进博会的成功举办，反映了国际社会对中国发展现状及前景的充足信心，昭示着中国经济发展的光明前景。

The Second China International Import Expo (CIIE) was held in Shanghai between 5th and 10th of November. H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, H.E. Mr. Andrew Holness Prime Minister of Jamaica, H.E. Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General of the World Trade Organization etc. attended the event. H.E. Mr. Xi Jinping President of PRC delivered a keynote speech in the Opening Ceremony and called for three proposals in building an open world economy and five measures for the opening-up of China at an even higher level. "The Chinese market is such a big one that you should all come and see what it has to offer", President Xi invited. The speech aroused wide concerns and comments of the international community. Representatives from 181 countries, regions and international organizations attended the second CIIE, 2160 tentative deals worth $71.13 billion was reached, rising 23% from that of last year, which is a big success. It reflects the full confidence of the international community in China's development now and future, which shows the brilliant prospect of China's economic development.

　　中国拥有近14亿人口，4亿多中等收入群体，中国市场规模巨大，潜力巨大，前景不可限量。中国经济行稳致远，长期向好的趋势没有改变也不会改变。现实中，2019年前三季度，虽然面临多年少有的国内外复杂严峻形势、经济出现新的下行压力，但中国经济运行继续保持了总体平稳，稳中有进的态势。主要呈现以下亮点：一是经济运行总体平稳。1-9月，国内生产总值增速保持在合理区间，经济结构优化升级，就业物价总体稳定，国际收支基本平衡，居民收入和社会保障水平稳步提高。二是营商环境持续优化。世界银行发表《2020营商环境报告》，中国营商环境排名由46位上升到31位，提升15位。三是国内市场潜力不断释放。1-9月，社会消费品零售总额增长8.2%。内需对经济增长的贡献率达80.3%。“十一”黄金周期间，全国零售和餐饮企业销售额增长8.5%，旅游收入增长8.5%。四是新动能持续壮大。1-9月，高技术制造业增加值增长8.7%，比全部规模以上工业快3.1个百分点；高技术制造业投资增长12.6%，制造业技改投资增长8.9%。五是对外开放拓展发展新空间。1-9月，我国对东盟、欧盟以及“一带一路”沿线国家进出口分别增长11.5%、8.6%和9.5%，明显高于全国整体进出口增速。在全球跨境资本流动规模萎缩的背景下，1-9月我国实际利用外资增长6.5%。

China has a population of 1.4 billion, among which 400 million belongs to the middle-income group. The huge Chinese market points to a potential that is simply unlimited. The steady economic development of China and this long term trajectory remain unchanged and will not change. In fact, China's economy maintained a stance of progress while maintaining overall stability in the first three quarters, given the complicated and challenging domestic and international environment of a kind rarely seen in many years and new downward pressure on economy. The highlights are as follows: 1. The economy has been advanced steadily. In the first nine months, the GDP grew within a proper range. Economic structure was optimized and upgraded. Employment and consumer prices were generally stable, and a basic equilibrium in the balance of payments was maintained. Personal incomes and social security are improving steadily. 2. The business environment is continuously improved. Doing Business Report 2020 ranked China 31st, up by 15 places from last year's ranking of 46th. 3. The potential of domestic market demand is increasingly unlocked. In the first nine months, the total retail sales of consumer goods rose by 8.2%, and the domestic consumption contributed 80.3% of the economic growth. The week-long national holiday in this October saw an increase of 8.5% in the combined sales of the retail and catering industries and 8.5% in tourism spending. 4. New growth drivers are continuously strengthened. In the first nine months, the added value of high-tech manufacturing rose by 8.7%, 3.1% higher than that of the industrial enterprises above the designated size. Invest in high-tech manufacturing and its technological upgrading grew by 12.6% and 8.9% respectively. 5. Opening up expands new space for development. In the first three quarters, our imports and exports to the ASEAN, EU, and countries along the Belt and Road rose by 11.5%, 8.6% and 9.5% respectively, well above the overall national trade growth. In the first nine months, the amount of paid-in foreign investment in China grew by 6.5%, bucking the trend of shrinking cross border capital flows worldwide.