China plays a key role in setting G20 agenda
By John Ross
The G20 summit meets against the backdrop of two interrelated global issues.First,since the
international financial crisis global growth has been slow. Second, asa result social andgeopolitical
crises have persisted. China’s proposals for the G20 summit – an innovative,invigorated, interconnected and inclusive economy –simultaneously and in an
integratedway address both issues.
China’s four proposals are inseparably connected:Innovation, in technology and in management,
logistics, skills and ideas, is indispensablefor sustained economic development.
But innovation purely in ideas is insufficient to lead to sustained economic development.Advances in
ICT technology, for example, had to be embodied in investment in internetand computer technology
to produce productivity gains. Therefore, the global economymust be invigorated through increased
investment, new trade liberalisation agreements,new financial institutions such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) andmodifications in global economic governance. This requires
drawing on numerousresources in global economy and finance.
Development is most powerful if internationally integrated. Since Adam Smithfoundedmodern economics
it has been known that the most powerful force developingproductivity is division of labour, which in a
globalised economy necessarily includesinternational division of labour.Retreats into protectionism deeply
damage the worldeconomy. But advancing international division of labour requires not only legal trade
andinvestment agreements but development of internationally integrated infrastructuremaking
such trade possible and supporting international investment. Such integrationhighlights the importance of China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’initiative,while China supportseconomic integration in Africa, Latin America, Europe
and elsewhere.
Development must be inclusive both between and withincountries.Failure of sections ofthe world’s population to benefit from economic development is dangerous politically.Impoverishment of sections
of the population and social disintegration has led to terroristorganisations gaining support, andin some
cases open warfare, in parts of Africa and theMiddle East. Within advanced economies failure of parts of the population to gain fromeconomic growth strengthens
protectionist and xenophobic forces which threaten globaleconomic integration and therefore global prosperity.
Success in developing innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive economicgrowth will therefore lessen
geopolitical and social tensions.
China is in an unequalled position to give leadership on this G20 agenda not onlytheoretically but due to China’s practical achievements in dealing both with theinternational financial crisis and over the longer term.From
2007, the last year before the financial crisis, to 2015 China accounted for 46% of world growth measured at
currentexchange rates – compared to 22% for the second placed US.China was the worldeconomys most
powerful engine to face the international financial crisis, benefitting bothadvanced and developing economies.
World Bank data shows 83% of the worlds population still lives in developing countries.Economic development
therefore remains the most pressing issue facing humanity. China, the worlds largest developing economy, increased its per capita GDP, the fundamental index of economic
development, from 2007 to 2015 by 86% - the fastest of any G20country.
China playsa key G20 agenda setting role because, in addition to these shorter term anti-crisis trends, China’s historical economic and social achievements areunprecedented.From1978 onwards China experienced the
most rapid economic growth in a major economy inhuman history. China lifted 728 million people from World
Bank defined poverty,83% ofthe reduction of those living in poverty in the world. This is greatest contribution
of anycountry to human well-being.
But despite theseachievements China's stress on integrated inclusive growth means Chinahas no conception it
can successfully develop alone. Instead China advocatess trengthening the G20’s role. G20 economies account for 85% of world GDP, including thelargest advanced and developing economies. The
G20 is therefore provides an unequalledforum to coordinate measures to deal with the world’s most pressing
economic issues.
China's proposals for an innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive economyare therefore crucial not
only for this years Hangzhou summit but a step towards the G20sstrategic development.
John Ross is Senior Fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, RenminUniversity of China.
Source: People's Daily
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