WEN JIABAO AND EXPORTS

WEN URGES STABILIZING EXPORT GROWTH

Xinhua

China Daily, August 26, 2012

GUANGZHOU - Premier Wen Jiabao said China should carry out targeted efforts to steady export growth so the country can hopefully meet this year's economic and social development goals.

During an inspection tour on Friday and Saturday to the southern province of Guangdong, the country's major exporter of goods, Wen said China should place high attention to the difficulties and uncertainties facing exports, which had taken a hit from the global economic headwinds.

"The third quarter of the year is a critical period for China to realize the year's export growth target and we should take targeted steps to stabilize growth," Wen said.

China aims to expand its foreign trade by 10 percent this year.

Wen's latest remarks came as export growth slowed sharply in July to a six-month low following dwindling demand from Europe and Japan.

Exports rose a mere 1 percent year-on-year to 176.9 billion U.S. dollars in July, plummeting from the 11.3-percent growth seen in June, official data showed.

During the trip, Wen visited several companies in cities of Guangzhou, Foshan and Dongguan, where he asked them to push forward structural adjustments, increase input in fostering innovation and make diversified strategies to adapt to the export markets.

Wen said that judging from the new export indexes, China's export outlook will continue to be clouded by difficulties and uncertainties.

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