China grows into responsible leadership in the world: BCG Chairman

DAVOS - With its commitment to persistently driving world economic growth, globalization and equity, China has grown into responsible leadership in the world, said Hans-Paul Buerkner, chairman of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), in an interview with Xinhua here on Tuesday.

As a responsible world power, China acts not only in the interests of itself, but also in the interests of the whole world, the 65-year-old chairman told Xinhua amid the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

The WEF meeting this year is themed "Responsive and Responsible Leadership" amid the massive risks and challenges the world is facing, including sluggish growth, inadequate economic governance and uneven development.

"Today the world is much more complex and interconnected," said Buerkner, adding that it's not easy to overcome the massive resistance and turn the world into a much better place.

China has become a major driving force while confronting those big challenges, he said.

Referring to the uncertainties caused by the rising trends of anti-globalization, protectionism and populism, which have been threatening global prosperity, Buerkner believed that openness and globalization could bring a win-win result.

The chairman of the world's leading consulting company spoke highly of Chinese President Xi Jinping's keynote speech at the opening plenary of the WEF annual meeting, which emphasized the importance of growth.

Making the cake bigger is really the key issue, Buerkner said.

In order to address the challenge of inequality, policymakers should help those who lag behind to gain new capabilities, rather than just give them social welfare, said Buerkner.

"People need to feel they are creating value for their own," said Buerkner, adding that infrastructure is fairly significant in many emerging economies.

Under the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Xi in 2013, China has been playing a productive role in improving infrastructural connectivity with countries along the ancient trade routes, creating better base for economic development in those countries.

It's not just about the newly-built highways, railways or airports, but also about manufacturing that creates more jobs, said Buekner.

It will bring people together and provide more job opportunities, as more small- and medium-sized enterprises are expected to be established alongside, Buekner added.