NZ PM applauds China's role amid crisis

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-08-21 09:18

WELLINGTON -- New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said he hoped China and other large Asian countries can help the world out of the global economic recession at an earlier date.

In a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua, Key said despite the global financial crisis, the Asian region, China in particular, performed better in economic growth than America and Europe.

Related readings: China can contribute much in cooperation with ASEAN Call for global currency wins int'l backing China eyes SDR as global currency China's March exports continue falling but at slower pace He said that at the APEC meeting in Peru last year, Chinese President Hu Jintao expressed the strong will to spend huge amount of money to stimulate the economy and domestic demand.

"China also supports free trade and the pushing forward the Doha Round of WTO and opposes to the return of protectionism," Key said.

At the G20 Summit in London in early April, China also pledged to contribute US$40 billion to the International Monetary Fund, said the New Zealand prime minister.

Commenting on the outcome of the G20 London Summit, Key said it was far better than he expected.

Key also praised the positive role played by the regional cooperation framework such as the APEC, ASEAN and East Asia Summit, saying they provide a platform to discuss regional issues and strengthen regional cooperation.

He spoke highly of the free trade deal the ASEAN countries signed with New Zealand and Australia in February.

The New Zealand prime minister will pay an official visit to China on April 14-18, the first visit to China since he took office in last November