China makes moves to increase imports

Editor: 管理员      Date:2011-10-24      Hit:5191
%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EChina%20is%20studying%20and%20launching%20concrete%20measures%20related%20to%20tax%20and%20procedures%20to%20increase%20imports.%20The%20move%20is%20part%20of%20a%20bid%20to%20enhance%20the%20country%27s%20industrial%20competitiveness%20and%20balance%20of%20trade%2C%20said%20Zhong%20Shan%2C%20vice-minister%20of%20commerce%20on%20Thursday.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EWhile%20the%20global%20debt%20crisis%20is%20hurting%20demand%20for%20Chinese%20goods%20and%20exports%2C%20%22expanding%20imports%20will%20strengthen%20the%20competitiveness%20of%20the%20local%20industries%2C%20if%20appropriate%20moves%20are%20taken%22%2C%20said%20Zhong%20during%20a%20keynote%20speech%20at%20the%20China%20Import%20Forum%202011%20in%20Shanghai.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EThe%20country%20is%20stepping%20up%20efforts%20to%20research%20and%20draft%20six%20relevant%20measures%2C%20including%20%22launching%20preferential%20tax%20and%20finance%20policies%2C%20simplifying%20and%20reducing%20relevant%20procedures%2C%20maturing%20domestic%20circulating%20channels%20and%20promoting%20%28trade%29%20fairs%22%2C%20he%20said.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EMeanwhile%2C%20the%20nation%20is%20also%20committed%20to%20optimizing%20the%20import%20structure%2C%20and%20importing%20more%20advanced%20technology%2C%20equipment%20and%20parts%2C%20resource-related%20and%20consumer%20goods%20in%20the%20next%20five%20years.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EOn%20Thursday%2C%20the%20ministry%20also%20announced%20the%20establishment%20of%20the%20Shanghai%20Waigaoqiao%20tariff-free%20zone%20-%20China%27s%20largest%20zone%20of%20its%20kind%20in%20terms%20of%20imports%20-%20as%20a%20trial%20area%20for%20the%20promotion%20of%20regional%20imports%20and%20trade.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EChina%27s%20year-on-year%20import%20growth%20during%20the%20first%20eight%20months%20has%20been%20increasing%2C%20resulting%20in%20a%20figure%20of%2030.2%20percent%20in%20August.%20Between%20January%20and%20August%2C%20imports%20grew%20by%2027.5%20percent%2C%20compared%20with%2023.6%20percent%20for%20exports.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EExperts%20attributed%20the%20growth%20to%20the%20nation%27s%20rapid%20economic%20rise%20and%20huge%20demand%20from%20across%20the%20world%2C%20and%20the%20%22strong%20growth%20momentum%20will%20continue%20for%20the%20rest%20of%20the%20year%2C%20with%20the%20growth%20of%20imports%20expected%20to%20surpass%20that%20of%20exports%22%2C%20said%20Wang%20Shouwen%2C%20director%20general%20of%20the%20foreign%20trade%20department.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3E%22Without%20expanding%20imports%2C%20China%20cannot%20maintain%20sustainable%20development%20in%20foreign%20trade%2C%22%20said%20Zhong.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EChina%27s%20exporters%20are%20facing%20the%20challenge%20of%20shrinking%20external%20demand%20and%20an%20increasing%20number%20of%20trade%20remedy%20cases%2C%20especially%20against%20the%20backdrop%20of%20worsening%20economic%20woes%20in%20more-developed%20economies.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3E%22More%20imports%20could%20help%20reduce%20the%20trade%20surplus%20and%20alleviate%20the%20pressures%20of%20trade%20protectionism%2C%22%20said%20Zhong.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EThe%2012th%20Five-Year%20Plan%20%282011-2015%29%20said%20the%20country%20will%20pay%20equal%20attention%20to%20imports%20and%20exports%2C%20expanding%20imports%20of%20high-tech%20and%20energy%20goods%2C%20and%20also%20imports%20from%20the%20least-developed%20nations%20and%20countries%20that%20run%20large%20trade%20deficits%20with%20China.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EDuring%20the%20three%20decades%20since%20China%27s%20reform%20and%20opening-up%20policy%2C%20exports%20have%20registered%20double-digit%20annual%20growth%20and%20played%20a%20prominent%20role%20in%20the%20nation%27s%20economic%20growth.%20China%20overtook%20Germany%20as%20the%20world%27s%20largest%20exporter%20in%202009.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EHowever%2C%20imports%20are%20of%20strategic%20importance%20to%20the%20Chinese%20economy%2C%20and%20it%20is%20estimated%20that%20they%20account%20for%2046%20percent%20of%20China%27s%20growth%20in%20productivity%2C%20said%20Zhong.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EIn%20June%2C%20the%20ministry%20said%20that%20China%20is%20expected%20to%20reduce%20tariffs%20on%20some%20selected%20imports%20of%20luxury%20goods%2C%20as%20a%20way%20of%20boosting%20imports.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EImports%20of%20commodities%20such%20as%20minerals%2C%20energy-related%20and%20agricultural%20goods%20have%20also%20risen%20rapidly.%20In%202010%2C%2029%20percent%20of%20China%27s%20imports%20were%20commodity-based%2C%20while%20the%20figure%20was%2017%20percent%20in%202002.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3E%3CBR%3E%3C/FONT%3E%26nbsp%3B%3C/P%3E