SHANGHAI, May 10 (Xinhuanet) -- A JPMorgan Chase Bank expert
expressed confidence Friday that China's economy will continue to
grow by more than seven percent this year.
   China will become a leading force in Asia's economic
development, thanks to its economic reforms and a series of
measures taken by the government, said Chia-Liang Lian, who is
here to attend the 35th Annual Meeting of Board of Governors of
the Asian Development Bank.
   China has persevered in its reforms even during the Asian
economic crisis and the global economic downturn, he noted. "China
's reforms, oriented by the market economy, are going on in an in-
depth and all-round manner," he added.
   China has built up foreign reserves 12 times greater than its
short-term foreign debts, said Lian. "This is the engine of
Chinese economic growth."
   At present, foreign investors and financial experts are all
confident of China's economy, as post-WTO China will have immense
potentials for economic development, Lian said.
   He predicted that China will become a major export market for
Asia and the world at large, a "win-win" situation for Southeast
Asia, he said.
   At the present stage of economic transition, the Chinese
government is fully aware of the importance of reducing the income
gap, creating more jobs and building up sound social security and
legal systems, Lian said, adding that China is taking effective
measures to boost the sustained growth of the national economy and
maintain social stability.   Enditem