Highlights of press conference for 19th CPC National Congress

Tuo Zhen (second from left), spokesman for the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, holds a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Oct 17, 2017. [Photo by Deng Yongan/chinadaily.com.cn]

'Cutting debt does not mean cutting growth'

Tuo Zhen said that reducing debt and stabilizing economic growth are not contradictory policies.

"In the long run, deleveraging will help remove hidden risks that will affect steady and healthy economic development and strengthen medium- and long-term economic resilience," Tuo said.

China has created a good and steady macroeconomic environment for deleveraging and economic growth by holding onto the fundamental principle of making progress while maintaining stability, continuing to implement active fiscal policy and prudential monetary policy, sticking to supply-side structural reforms and moderately expanding total demands, he said.

"We insisted on taking multiple measures to deleverage to ensure that deleveraging will not make a negative impact on economic growth," Tuo said.

"At the current stage, deleveraging has made initial progress without bringing obvious austerity effects on the economy," he added. (Read more)

Party will design reforms to fit the nation's needs

The Communist Party of China has achieved a great deal during its efforts to reform the nation's political structure and will continue with the work, based upon China's own conditions, rather than by copying others' models, Tuo said.

He said the reform of the nation's political structure has remained a key topic on the Party's agenda since China adopted its reform and opening-up policy nearly 40 years ago.

"The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee meted out roadmaps for the ongoing comprehensive reforms, including 60 tasks for political structure reform," Tuo said.

The Fourth Plenary Session published 190 measures to boost the rule of law, and the Sixth Plenary Session arranged for new efforts to be made to improve the management of Party members, Tuo told reporters. (Read more)

China maintains commitment to combat poverty in rural areas

China is confident that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee it will win the battle against poverty, Tuo said.

"Whether we can build a moderately prosperous society, the key lies in the rural population," he said. "It depends on if the poor population living in the rural areas can be lifted out of poverty."

To lift all of the rural population living in poverty by the current standard by 2020 is a solid commitment made by the Party, and is a hard target that has to be achieved, Tuo added.

"We will emphasize real efforts, real progress and real results in poverty alleviation," said Tuo. "To ensure the impact of poverty alleviation work will truly win the recognition of the people and stand the test of history."

President Xi Jinping has made it a key aim that no one should be left behind in building the moderately prosperous society in all respects, he added. (Read more)

Purpose of Belt and Road is a win-win for all

The purpose of China advocating international cooperation on production capacity is not transferring backward capacity, Tuo Zhen said.

"Backward and surplus capacity has no market. Only high-quality capacity can win the competition," he said.

According to Tuo, China advocates international cooperation on production capacity, which is aimed at leveraging the comparative strength of all countries, serving the development needs of the countries, and building a more balanced and inclusive global industrial chain.

"It is not for the purpose of transferring backward capacity," he said, noting that in a highly open international market, Chinese companies face fierce competition from local companies and international colleagues. (Read more)