STORY: In rewiring global growth, China takes its role
DATELINE: June 28, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:23
LOCATION: TIANJIN, China
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions held in Tianjin Municipality, China
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): TAWANDA GUSHA, CEO of Airports Company of Zimbabwe Private Limited
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MIWAKO ANDO, Deputy director general, Headquarters of Wellbeing & Lifestyle Business, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): WALTER BENZ, President of Big Dutchman China
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): MILAN NEDELJKOVIC, Member of the board of management of BMW AG

STORYLINE:

The ongoing 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions has provided a platform for global participants to advance regional and global collaboration and address the world's most pressing problems in the post-pandemic era.
   
The three-day event, also known as the Summer Davos, opened on Tuesday in China's Tianjin, marking the resumption of the annual meeting in the country after a four-year hiatus.
   
While the attendees from businesses, governments, international organizations, and academia offer insights into global issues with rewiring growth as a major topic, many have said that China is playing a vital role in driving the world's economic recovery, benefiting the rest of the world.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): TAWANDA GUSHA, CEO of Airports Company of Zimbabwe Private Limited
"China plays a very critical role because China is the second-largest economy in the world. So I think China plays a very critical role in global recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MIWAKO ANDO, Deputy director general, Headquarters of Wellbeing & Lifestyle Business, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.
"I think the Chinese economy is recovering gradually. The Chinese market has a very big potential for all businesses."

The World Bank's latest Global Economic Prospects lifted its prediction of China's economic growth this year by 1.3 percentage points to 5.6 percent.

The mid-year update of the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2023, released by the United Nations, projected that China's economy will grow 5.3 percent this year, up from the 4.8 percent forecast in January.

In its May edition of the Asia-Pacific regional economic outlook, the International Monetary Fund expects China's economy to grow 5.2 percent this year.

Foreign entrepreneurs have expressed their confidence in the Chinese market.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): WALTER BENZ, President of Big Dutchman China
"China is one of the most promising, still one of the most promising markets that has already delivered a lot in the last years. But I think we are still very confident that we can do more."

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): MILAN NEDELJKOVIC, Member of the board of management of BMW AG
"The Chinese market is very strong. It's dynamic and it's resilient. So right now it's growing, and that's a very strong potential for investments. So there is a significant opportunity for investments of foreign companies, which gives the win-win situation for both China and the investors."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tianjin, China.
(XHTV)