On March 5, 2019, the second session of the 13th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China kicked off at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, at which Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivered the Report on the Work of the Government.
China Today interviewed some foreign diplomats in Beijing who shared their views on the report.
Leela Mani Paudyal, Nepalese Ambassador to China
The Report on the Work of the Government 2019 highlights the achievements China has made in 2018 and further identifies the challenges and problems that China faces, with various policies and measures to strengthen and improve its governance. The Chinese government's primary focus is on ensuring continued quality growth of the economy. The government plans to keep CPI increase at three percent while keeping the overall macroeconomic indicators within an appropriate range. Further steps include creating more employment and ensuring a stable financial sector, along with proposed measures in foreign trade, currency exchange rate, and foreign and domestic investment. Emphasis has also been placed on promoting investment by opening up more sectors for equity investment, improving the IPR regime, and encouraging innovation and technological development in order to boost market and investor confidence. The policy measures and programs announced are considered as key drivers for continued economic growth of China.
China's economic development is vitally important for the healthy development of the world economy as well as for Nepal, as the economies of Nepal and China get increasingly inter-connected. Moreover, China's economic policies are more and more relevant for Nepal as we pursue our path of economic development at a faster pace by further strengthening economic ties with China. We are seeking expanded cooperation in investment, connectivity - more specifically cross-border transport infrastructures including railways, tourism, technology transfer, industrial development, agricultural development, and development of digital technology. And we foresee more investments, tourism, and trade between Nepal and China in the year ahead. Therefore, China's continued growth and stable socio-economic development have paramount importance for Nepal. I wish for them complete success in their endeavor of developing China into a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2021.
Karunasena Kodituwakku, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China
The most remarkable highlight I observed in the Report on the Work of the Government, submitted to the 2019 NPC and CPPCC Sessions was the tremendous success China has achieved on the economic front.
Chinese economy has already become the second largest in the world, with its GDP beyond US $13 trillion and foreign exchange reserves US $3 trillion. Moreover, economic success is visible whenever we visit some provinces and cities. Significant success in poverty alleviation and employment-first policies under the vision of people-centric development has promoted social justice. That has given the vast majority of Chinese people a better life.
Finally, I would like to congratulate the political leadership and its people for the excellent contribution they’ve jointly made to the global economy. Furthermore, I would like to take this opportunity to extend Sri Lanka’s sincere, best wishes for China’s further success in the future.
Alhassan Bukhalifa, Algerian Ambassador to China
In the Report on the Work of the Government, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang reviewed the work in 2018 and set a clear goal for the work in 2019. The Chinese government's excellent work over the past year has accomplished its goals set in the previous year. I believe that in 2019, their objectives in the fields of economy, society, culture, and international relations can also be achieved on schedule. I want to congratulate the Chinese people for their success under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of China. Many countries are now participating in China’s proposal － the Belt & Road Initiative. A very important goal of this initiative is to achieve peaceful development and the unity of the people of the world. Through this initiative China can share its achievements with the world. China also hopes to establish mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation with the rest of the world. Algeria attaches great importance to its partnership with China, since China has been Algeria's largest economic and trade partner for six consecutive years. In the framework of the Belt & Road Initiative, our two countries are already involved in many important cooperative projects with more on the way.
