The 19th Communist Party of China National Congress will convene in Beijing on Oct 18. The Congress will review the Party’s work over the past five years, discuss and set the future direction for the Party and the nation, as well as elect a new central leadership.
As all eyes are on the upcoming Congress, let’s take a look at what international media said about the developments and achievements of China.
Economic resilience
China’s exports grew 8.1% in September from a year ago, the General Administration of Customs said Friday.
The improvement in exports has been a significant factor in China’s stronger-than-expected economic growth in the first half of 2017, a reversal of their role as a drag on expansion in the previous two years.
Imports climbed 18.7% in September, beating forecasts and the previous month’s 13.3% gain. The continued strength in the country’s imports is welcome news globally, with many economies, especially in Asia, heavily reliant on Chinese demand.
The International Monetary Fund has raised its forecast for several Asian economies this year to reflect its more upbeat view of global demand and China’s unexpected resilience.
— Fox Business: China Exports Rose for Seventh Straight Month in September (Oct 13, 2017)
Peacekeeping efforts
Beijing first sent troops into a combat zone in 2013, dispatching peacekeepers to Mali, and in 2015 sent troops to South Sudan, where part of the mission is to guard oil installations, some of which are Chinese invested. Three Chinese warships have joined the international naval flotilla battling piracy in the Gulf of Aden.
China supplies 2,322 troops to UN peacekeeping efforts worldwide — by far the most of any UN security council member — and has pledged 8,000 for a fast-response force. The US has just 42 troops but fronts the largest share of the UN peacekeeping budget — although US President Donald Trump wants to cut that by half.
— CNN: A global military player (May 12, 2017)
