Keynote Speech by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the APPCG Q&A with Ambassador on the "Two Sessions": Understand the "Two Sessions", Build up Consensus and Create a Bright Future
尊敬的英国议会跨党派中国小组副主席克莱门特-琼斯勋爵,
尊敬的各位议员,
女士们、先生们,
大家下午好!
对英国而言,刚刚过去的三月,是各位英国议员“空前忙碌”的时段,脱欧是当前英国政治生活中的一件大事。
Lord Clement-Jones,
My Lords and MPs,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Good afternoon!
March 2019 was an unprecedentedly busy month for British MPs, as you focus on a matter of paramount importance in British politics - Brexit.
对中国而言,过去三月也是“非常繁忙”的时间,一年一度的“两会”是中国政治生活中的一件大事。近3000名全国人大代表和2000多名全国政协委员齐聚北京,共商国是,共谋大计,勾勒国家未来发展方向,描绘中国未来发展蓝图。
格雷厄姆主席和克莱门特-琼斯勋爵希望我介绍一下“两会”的情况。我想通过回答三个问题,与大家分享我对“两会”特别是对中国未来发展的看法。
It is also a very busy month for China, as the very important political event was held – the annual "Two Sessions".
The "Two Sessions" refer to the annual meetings of the National People's Congress, or NPC and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, known as CPPCC. Close to 3,000 NPC deputies and more than 2,000 CPPCC members gathered in Beijing to discuss major issues and make plans for the future of the country.
Chairman Graham and Lord Clement-Jones asked me to give a briefing on the "Two Sessions". So let me share with you my views on the "two Sessions", especially on China's future development by answering three questions.
第一个问题,怎么看中国经济的未来前景?
当前,中国经济是一个热议话题,“中国经济滑坡论”、“责任论”、“机遇论”等各种观点莫衷一是。李克强总理在“两会”记者会上明确表示,“中国经济会始终成为世界经济的一个重要稳定之锚”。我认为,这种信心来自三方面:
First, how is China's economic prospect?
This is a hot topic. Some people think China's economy is slowing down and blame this for problems elsewhere; Others believe that China's economy remains an opportunity.
At the press conference of the "Two Sessions", Premier Li Keqiang aired his confidence that "China's economy will remain an anchor of stability for the global economy". I think there are three reasons behind his confidence:
一是中国经济基本态势持续向好。近年来,中国经济在高基数基础上保持中高速增长。2018年中国国内生产总值达13.6万亿美元,稳居世界第二位。经济增速达6.6%,在世界前五大经济体中居于首位,新增经济总量相当于澳大利亚的经济规模。2018年中国货物进出口总额首次突破30万亿元人民币,约4.6万亿美元,增长12.6%,比上年净增5100多亿美元,超过2001年刚加入WTO时全年进出口总额,全球最大货物贸易国地位更加稳固。在全球跨境投资大幅下滑背景下,2018年中国利用外资1350亿美元,逆势增长3%,继续成为对外资吸引力最强的发展中经济体。今年中国“两会”确定经济增长预期目标为6%—6.5%,增速料将继续领航世界主要经济体。
First, China's economy continues to perform strongly.
China's medium-to-high speed growth rate in recent years is on top of a very large base figure. In 2018, China continued to be the world's second largest economy, with its total GDP reaching 13.6 trillion US dollars. Its growth rate of 6.6% continued to be the fastest among the world's top five economies and its GDP increment was roughly the total GDP of Australia.
China continues to be the world's largest trader in goods. In 2018, China's total trade in goods exceeded 30 trillion RMB yuan for the first time (that is the equivalent of 4.6 trillion US dollars). It also represented an increase of 12.6% over the previous year. The net increment was over 510 billion US dollars, larger than China's trade total of 2001, the first year of China's membership in the WTO.
China remains the most attractive FDI destination among developing economies. Despite a steep drop in global FDI in 2018, foreign investment flowing into China totaled 135 billion US dollars, increasing by 3%.
At the "Two Sessions" this year, China set its growth target at 6% to 6.5%, which would probably remain the fastest among major economies in the world.