STORY: Key takeaways of China's "two sessions": GDP growth target
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: March 10, 2024
LENGTH: 0:05:19
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of China
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JAMES KIMONYO, Ambassador of Rwanda to China
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MICHAEL CAMPBELL, Ambassador of Nicaragua to China
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): CHRISTINE SUSANNA TJHIN, Director of Strategic Research, Gentala Institute, Indonesia
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): NASSER ABDEL-AAL, Professor of Chinese language at Cairo-based Ain Shams University
6. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): BERNARD DEWIT, Chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (BCECC)
7. SOUNDBITE 6 (Japanese): HIDETOSHI TASHIRO, Chief Economist, Japan's Infinity LLC.
8. SOUNDBITE 7 (English): BENJAMIN MGANA, Chief Editor of Foreign News of The Guardian, Tanzania
9. SOUNDBITE 8 (English): ANNA MALINDOG-UY, Vice President of the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, the Philippines
10. SOUNDBITE 9 (English): STEPHEN NDEGWA, Lecturer in international relations at Nairobi-based United States International University-Africa
11. SOUNDBITE 10 (Chinese): YB LEE CHEAN CHUNG, Chairman, Center for Regional Strategic Studies, Malaysia
12. SOUNDBITE 11 (English): CHARLES ONUNAIJU, Director of Center for China Studies in Nigeria

STORYLINE:

Chinese economy showed solidity and resilience in 2023 by recording year-on-year growth of 5.2 percent.

This achievement has positioned China among the fastest-growing major economies in the world.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JAMES KIMONYO, Ambassador of Rwanda to China
"What was achieved last year was about 5.2 percent. The outlook is very positive. This is the second largest economy in the world, and so a slight growth in China has a huge impact to the global economy. And so that's why you know, everyone is watching this recovery, this bounce back of China, and its contribution to the global recovery and the global economy."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MICHAEL CAMPBELL, Ambassador of Nicaragua to China
"Last year, the growth target was 5 percent, and China exceeded its target, reaching 5.2 percent. I believe that China will continue to be a very important contributor to global development, a very important contributor to global stability and peace and prosperity."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): CHRISTINE SUSANNA TJHIN, Director of Strategic Research, Gentala Institute, Indonesia
"Last year's number was quite a bit of a surprise. I think the development of the tourism industry and also the consumption rate during the Chinese New Year, for example, just not long ago, is an indication for optimism. And this is definitely good indications of how consumption-driven economy in China will contribute to this new development of China."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): NASSER ABDEL-AAL, Professor of Chinese language at Cairo-based Ain Shams University
"China's 5.2 percent growth rate last year marks a huge economic achievement. China's development will help countries in the world achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, share the fruits of development and improve the well-being of people."

SOUNDBITE 5 (English): BERNARD DEWIT, Chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (BCECC)
"I would say that China has had incredible growth. You still have more than 5 percent or between 4.5 and 5.5 percent growth, which is already something important, something admirable in one way. China, due to the size of the country, due to the size of its market, due to the size of its production, has such an important role in the world economy. The world economy without China couldn't do, so I'm personally convinced that we have interest to have a prosperous China. We have interest to have a prosperous China because that brings also a kind of stability in the world economy."

International experts have voiced optimism about China's target of around 5 percent GDP growth in 2024.

SOUNDBITE 6 (Japanese): HIDETOSHI TASHIRO, Chief Economist, Japan's Infinity LLC.
"It is reasonable and necessary (for China) to set an economic growth target of around 5 percent. China's achievement of its economic growth target is indispensable to the stable development of the world economy. I want to see this goal achieved."

SOUNDBITE 7 (English): BENJAMIN MGANA, Chief Editor of Foreign News of The Guardian, Tanzania
"China's expected GDP growth target of around 5 percent in 2024 reflects a pragmatic approach amidst global economic uncertainties. It signifies a shift towards quality-driven growth rather than sheer expansion, aiming for sustainable development."

SOUNDBITE 8 (English): ANNA MALINDOG-UY, Vice President of the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, the Philippines
"I think the 5 percent target GDP growth is a testament to China's realistic, prudent economic management and more sustainable growth. It's already an exemplification that China is targeting not only its speed when it comes to GDP but actually in terms of the quality. And that's what you call high-quality development. It is a very balanced approach in many ways. It considers to a certain extent the gap between the urban and the rural areas of China pursuing high-quality development."

SOUNDBITE 9 (English): STEPHEN NDEGWA, Lecturer in international relations at Nairobi-based United States International University-Africa
"I think it's a realistic projection. China has been at the core of the global re-starting of supply and industrial chains. So even as the other countries recover, we expect that they are going to need more goods and services from China and thus expand not just the Chinese economy, but the rest of the global economy."

SOUNDBITE 10 (Chinese): YB LEE CHEAN CHUNG, Chairman, Center for Regional Strategic Studies, Malaysia
"In fact, when we talk about China's development today, it is also the development of the world. As an economy that is playing an increasingly important role in the world economy, China's smooth transition and ongoing emphasis on high-quality development can certainly lead more countries to develop in the same direction as China's development."

SOUNDBITE 11 (English): CHARLES ONUNAIJU, Director of Center for China Studies in Nigeria
"This year's 'two sessions' will be an important one, not only for China but for the rest of the world. China's growth and development is an opportunity to the world."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)