Share

China seeks to assure G20 over economy

Under Australia’s presidency of the group in 2014, G20 countries pledged to implement a series of reforms, specified individually by each country, to increase global economic growth by an additional 2 percent by 2018.

Advertisement

The global economic and financial situation may have become more grim and complex.

Several other policymakers have urged better coordination, but there was disagreement about what steps to take, making it unlikely that concrete action points will emerge from the meeting.

Japan has already adopted negative interest rates, the European Central Bank has embarked on its own huge stimulus programme, and the US Federal Reserve has signalled possible delays to interest rate rises.

“It would not be reasonable to expect a crisis response in an environment that is not a crisis”, he said told reporters.

Speaking as the G20 meeting of central bank governors and finance ministers kicked off in Shanghai, central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan sent a message of confidence and repeated earlier reassurances the country would not stage another devaluation of its currency to support the economy. “The market is sometimes more influenced by short-term factors”. Also on Friday, China’s central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan said China still has more room and tools in its monetary policy to tackle downward pressure in the economy, and its fiscal policy will be more proactive. He also sought to manage expectations around the speed of China’s economic reform agenda.

Mr. Zhou spoke in Chinese at his news conference, but delivered his speech to investors in English, seeking to reassure them that China’s economy remains fundamentally healthy. The pace will vary, but the reform will be set to continue and the direction is not changed.

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney warned cutting rates below zero carried serious risks, and blamed the recent global slump in shares and other assets on the failure of governments to make bold economics reforms.

“The debt finance growth model has reached its limit”, said Schauble said at an event organized by the Washington-based Institute of International Finance alongside the Shanghai meeting.

Vice finance minister Zhu Guangyao said that fiscal measures are required to boost growth globally.

The British pound also enjoyed a rebound following heavy losses in the wake of concerns over Britain’s future in the European Union.

Asian stocks rallied on Friday, after gains in equities around the world lifted the mood hours before a meeting of G20 officials kicked off in Shanghai. “In most advanced economies, hard structural reforms have been deferred”.

“As for monetary policy…we will not focus on external conditions or capital flows in setting our monetary policy framework”.

China’s yuan traded roughly steady from its level late yesterday, with authorities guiding the currency slightly weaker against the United States dollar for the fourth session in a row. “It will stay basically stable on an adaptable and equilibrium level”.

“Amidst market turbulence there is a call to arms for the G20 to get the global economy back on track”, said David Cannington, a senior economist at ANZ.

Advertisement

China’s economy grew 6.9% last year, its slowest expansion in 25 years.

Stimulus hopes give European stocks a lift, pound stabilizes