Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said Friday that the Chinese economy would experience stable growth and avoid a hard landing in 2012, dispelling a scenario economists fear may upset the global economy.
(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE VICE PRESIDENT, XI JINGPING, SAYING:
"2012 will be a crucial year in driving the 12th five-year plan. China's economy will maintain fast and stable pace of growth and definitely there will be no so-called hard landing."
The Chinese leader-in-waiting, turning to courting American companies hungry for a slice of his nation's growth, said China the international community has nothing to fear from China's growth.
(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE VICE PRESIDENT, XI JINGPING, SAYING:
"A prosperous and stable China will not be a threat to any country, rather it will be a force for world pace and force for global economic development."
Xi is almost certain to succeed Hu Jintao as Chinese president in just over a year. His U.S. tour has featured commercial deals and reassuring talks intended to blunt American ire about the trade gap between the countries.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
