Overseas press praise China´s persistence for 8% economic growth

Source: Xinhua | 03-06-2009 08:12

BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The international press has given extensive coverage to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's government work report at the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) which started on Thursday, and praised China's persisted target of 8 percent annual economic growth in the face of the world financial crisis.

The French-based AFP reported that despite the turbulence and recession of the world economy, "Wen forecast China can sustain eight percent economic growth in 2009, boosting hopes China's export-driven economy will cope with the crisis."

"Asian markets rallied for a second day after Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday reaffirmed his government's growth aims, triggering gains across the region in China-related stocks," it reported.

On Thursday, the benchmark Nikkei-225 climbed 142.53 points to 7,433.49, up 1.95 percent.

The British news agency Reuters said: "Premier Wen Jiabao assured on Thursday that China will achieve 8 percent growth this year despite a deepening financial crisis, setting out export support and spending programs to shore up the economy."