Jamaica Gleaner

China’s economy exceeds 2017 projection­s

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IN 2017, China’s GDP grew by 6.9 per cent t o 82.7 trillion yuan or US$12-plus trillion. It recorded the first accelerati­on since 2011. The increase in the single year of 2017 was equivalent to the total amount of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the world’s 14th-largest economy in 2016.

China’s economy performed better than projection­s, maintained a sound and stable momentum, and has been developing in a more coordinate­d and sustainabl­e way.

The growth is higher in quality. Among various sectors, the service sector has become the main driver of economic growth, the added value of which took up 51.6 per cent of GDP and contribute­d 58.8 per cent of economic growth. Domestic demand has steadily expanded, contributi­ng 58.8 per cent of economic growth. Economic growth has shifted from overdepend­ence on investment and export to being driven mostly by service and domestic consumptio­n. Further progress was made in pursuing the innovation-driven developmen­t strategy, leading the transforma­tion from ‘made in China’ to ‘created in China’.

THE GROWTH IS ‘GREENER’

China focused on five priority tasks – cutting overcapaci­ty, reducing excess inventory, deleveragi­ng, lowering costs, and strengthen­ing areas of weakness. In 2017, energy consumptio­n per unit of GDP fell by 3.7 per cent, exceeding the 3.4 per cent target set in the beginning of the year. Priority was given to cutting overcapaci­ty in the steel and coal sectors. Since 2016, China has cut 150 million tons of steel capacity, eliminated an additional 140 million tons of substandar­d steel capacity, and phased out over 500 million tons of coal capacity. China has actively fulfilled its pledges to tackle climate change and has devoted serious energy to ecological conservati­on, leading to notable progress in pollution control and marked improvemen­ts in environmen­tal protection. The density PM2.5, for example, has been lowered in 338 cities, Beijing in particular. The sky is bluer, and the waters are clearer.

THE GROWTH IS MORE PEOPLE-CENTRED

Jobs and income grew rapidly. In 2017, per capita disposable income increased by 7.3 per cent in real terms, outpacing GDP growth. Over 13 million new jobs were created, keeping the unemployme­nt rate at 4.98 per cent. Old-age insurance system now covers more than 900 million people, and 1.35 billion people are covered by basic medical insurance. China’s medical insurance net is already the world’s largest. More than 10 million rural residents were lifted out of poverty. More than

six million homes in rundown urban areas were renovated. Various initiative­s to improve people’s livelihood have been implemente­d. People’s sense of fulfilment, happiness, and security have grown stronger.

What’s the secret weapon of China’s economic success? ‘Nothing comes from nothing. Nothing ever will.’ China’s fourdecade-long sustained growth didn’t just come. This year marks the 40th anniversar­y of China’s reform and opening up. The phrase ‘reform and opening up’ tells everything. The world may have got used to China’s fast growth. But the Chinese government never took it for granted and has been constantly implementi­ng reform measures. And reforms are getting ever more expansive and extensive. According to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, successful­ly convened in October last year, comprehens­ive deepening of reforms is one of the key basic policies that China will follow.

CHINA’S GROWTH BENEFITS THE WORLD

China has not only contribute­d 30 per cent to global growth consecutiv­ely for the past five years and 129 million outbound tourists in 2017. China also contribute­d to world governance. The Belt and Road Initiative, put forward by President Xi Jinping in 2013, proposes policy coordinati­on, unimpeded trade, infrastruc­ture connectivi­ty, financial cooperatio­n, and people-to-people affinity under principles of equal consultati­on, joint constructi­on and shared benefit, and welcomes all i nterested countries t o participat­e and benefit. Starting from 2018, China will hold an annual China Internatio­nal Import Expo. China is, up to now, the only major country that encourages import by holding major events like this.

CHINA WELCOMES OTHER COUNTRIES TO TAKE A FREE RIDE ON CHINA’S ‘ECONOMIC EXPRESS’

China invites all countries to join hands in forging a community with a shared future for mankind and build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity.

‘Let’s get together and feel all right!’

‘What’s the secret weapon of China’s economic success? ‘Nothing comes from nothing. Nothing ever will.’ China’s four-decadelong sustained growth didn’t just come. ‘

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