China to keep close ties with World Bank

Premier calls for firming up confidence, taking strong measures amid challenges

Premier Li Keqiang pledged on Monday that China is willing to maintain close cooperation with the World Bank, saying that the country remains committed to taking concrete actions to support multilateralism and global development.

Li made the remarks in Beijing while meeting via video link with World Bank President David Malpass.

Noting that the World Bank is an important multilateral institution promoting global development, he said China has maintained the healthy development of relations with the international economic organization.

Beijing supports the negotiations on the 20th replenishment process of the International Development Association and will play an active and constructive role in the process, Li added.

The association is part of the World Bank Group that helps to fight extreme poverty in the world's poorest countries. The increase in funding aims to support poor countries in their recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, as well as their transition to green, resilient, and inclusive development. The replenishment process will conclude this month with a policy and financial package to support 74 countries between July 2022 and June 2025, according to the World Bank.

The meeting came after the sixth"1+6" Roundtable, which Li held last week with heads of major international economic organizations including the World Bank. Malpass took part in that virtual meeting, which was described by the premier as "candid and productive".

It also took place following China's annual Central Economic Work Conference, a key policymaking meeting that concluded on Friday.

Speaking about China's economy next year, Li said that as the world's largest developing country, the nation will focus on economic stability in 2022 and strive to make progress while ensuring stability.

Given the fresh downward pressure on economic growth, the premier underlined the importance of coordinating efforts in stabilizing growth, readjusting the economic structure and promoting reforms.

"In the face of difficulties, we need to firm up our confidence and take strong measures to cope with the challenges," he said.

China will adopt a prudent and effective macroeconomic policy, and a proactive fiscal policy that is more efficient, tailored and sustainable, Li said, and its prudent monetary policy will be accommodating and appropriate to maintain liquidity at a reasonable and adequate level.

The country will also make efforts to carry out macro policies based on the demands of market entities to stimulate market vitality, and increase fiscal and financial policy support for small and medium-sized companies that help create employment, as well as the self-employed, in order to strengthen the resilience of the Chinese economy, he added.

"We are able to meet the main targets and fulfill the tasks (set for 2022)," Li said.

Malpass commended the stable development of the Chinese economy and spoke highly of the long-term and sound cooperation between China and the World Bank.

The World Bank looks forward to further sustainable cooperation with China in the areas of loans, poverty reduction and climate change, and will strengthen its partnership with it, he said.

Malpass expressed appreciation to China for its support for the International Development Association replenishment.