Premier confident about economy

Feike Sijbesma, Chairman and CEO of DSM:

The Chinese government in recent period has shown strong resolve to address climate change and fight pollution. We hope step by step Beijing will get cleaner air. My question is what are the challenges China is facing in addressing climate change and pollution? And while addressing that, can you maintain your economic growth? Or is pollution a precondition for maintaining economic growth?

Li Keqiang:

As we both have only limited time, allow me to give a brief answer to your question. The biggest challenge China faces in controlling pollution is that China is still a large developing country, yet it needs to shift the growth model and assume due international responsibilities in tackling climate change. There is a certain conflict of interests, and we need to strike a balance between the two. Not long ago, China announced its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution. China faces tremendous pressure in meeting these goals and will have to make enormous efforts. However, now that we have made those commitments, we will deliver on our commitment with concrete actions.

The Chinese government is taking steps to advance ecological conservation. In particular, we are intensifying efforts to save energy, cut emissions and control pollution. In the first half of this year, we managed to bring down per unit GDP energy consumption by 5.9 percent. We will continue to shift the growth model and promote green development. As China steps up efforts in environmental protection, the growth speed may have been affected. This may have caused concerns that the economy is slowing down and the real economy is being affected. We are working hard to foster green and energy-efficient industries that can be new drivers of growth, such as "Internet plus" and other new business models and industries. But again this needs a process.

Thank you.