STORY: China's economic growth defies Western naysayers
DATELINE: Sept. 20, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:19
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of street views in China
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HARLEY SEYEDIN, President of American Chamber of Commerce in South China
3. various of street views in China
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BENOIT BAZIN, CEO of Saint-Gobain Group
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): WALTER BENZ, President of Big Dutchman China
6. various of industries in China
7. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): NIREN ANAND, Indian businessman
8. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): CARL FEY, Professor, BI Norwegian Business School

STORYLINE:

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed Friday that China's retail sales of consumer goods, a major indicator of consumption strength, went up 4.6 percent year on year in August, 2.1 percentage points faster than the previous month.
   
When some in the West once again bad-mouthed China's economy, international observers say otherwise. Seeing the rosy picture of the country's steady recovery, they have pointed out that the Chinese economy is resilient, vigorous, and poised to secure an overall upward trend.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HARLEY SEYEDIN, President of American Chamber of Commerce in South China
"I have been involved with the Chinese economy for over 30 years. The reality is that China's economy is resilient because there is no question that the Chinese market will continue to grow and has great potential. China represents a market that will continue to be a place that we want to be part of. We want to provide technology and services to the Chinese people and at the same time benefit from it in a great way as we have in the past. The market will continue to grow."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BENOIT BAZIN, CEO of Saint-Gobain Group
"China is a fast-growing market and economy for us. So a lot of energy, a lot of talents. It gives me a lot of confidence for the future."

In the first half of this year, China's GDP recorded a 5.5-percent growth, notably faster than last year's 3 percent, and the fastest among major economies. The IMF predicted that China's economy will grow by 5.2 percent this year, and contribute one-third of the world growth.
   
China's value-added industrial output, an important economic indicator, went up 4.5 percent year on year in August, the latest data showed. The figure for the service production index is 6.8 percent, 1.1 percentage points faster than last month.

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."

Buoyed by emerging competitive industries and sectors, China's economy is transforming from high-speed growth to high-quality growth. This is making the economy more durable.
   
The first seven months of this year saw China's investment in high-tech industries climb 11.5 percent from last year, notably faster than the growth of its overall investment. 

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): NIREN ANAND, Indian businessman
"I have personally full confidence in China's economy. I can see a lot of innovations are coming. Instead of just putting in the same old way, we have to work in a new way, the way China is working. So we use this opportunity to make our business better and more prosperous."
   
SOUNDBITE 5 (English): CARL FEY, Professor, BI Norwegian Business School
"I think China has been developing very well in terms of high technologies. I think this is primarily because now there is a focus on moving from being the factory of the world to the innovative factory of the world and a focus on high-quality development. I'm quite confident that China will continue to produce a leading-edge technology."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)