Xi Jinping tells US delegation China’s economy is ‘sound and sustainable’
- Chinese leader also promises more policy support to build ‘world-class business environment’ in meeting with executives and academics
- He rejects narratives that the economy is ‘collapsing’ or ‘reaching its peak’ and says Beijing will provide ‘broader room’ for foreign businesses
A phone call between Ma Zhaoxu, China’s foreign vice-minister, and US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell coincided with Wednesday’s meeting. They discussed “international and regional issues” during the call, a Chinese foreign ministry statement said without elaborating.
Addressing the American delegation, Xi rejected narratives that the Chinese economy was “collapsing” or “reaching its peak”, vowing to create “broader room” for foreign businesses.
“China’s reform will not stop and its opening up will not stop,” the Chinese leader said, according to a report on state broadcaster CCTV.
“China is planning and implementing a series of major steps for comprehensively deepening reform, and steadily fostering a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment. This will create broader room for development for US and other foreign businesses.”
The meeting was held at the end of the annual China Development Forum in Beijing, where dozens of foreign business leaders were told that the economy was resilient and would maintain its potential, amid concerns over a downturn.