China's membership in IDB enhances co-op with L America Retailers cut prices to expand auto market CPI falls to minus 1.6% in Feb.

ADB: China's economy to grow 7% in 2009, 8% in 2010    The Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecast in a report that economic growth in China would slow to 7 percent in 2009 as a result of world economic downturn. Full story  WB forecasts 6.5% economic growth of China in 2009  Although China's economy had been hit hard by the global financial crisis, it was still holding up, the WB said in the China Quarterly Update.  Full story  Related stories · Global Financial Crisis ·China Development Forum 2009 ·Chinese leaders: crisis also means opportunity ·China's eonomic figures for first 2 month ·G20 meeting promises more action to fix economy     World economy to shrink by 1-2 percent in 2009: WB    BRUSSELS, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The world economy is set to shrink by 1 to 2 percent this year, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said at a conference here on Saturday. Full story

On   China's economy

China can be the first to recover from global downturn: gov't economist    China can be the first country to "regain relatively fast growth" amid the global financial crisis because of its economic foundation and stimulus policies, said economist Zhang Liqun. Full story UN official cautiously optimistic about China's growth in 2009    Jomo Kwame Sundaram,a UN officialexpressed cautiously optimistic views about China's economic outlook, in particular achieving a goal of an 8-percent growth rate in 2009. Full story U.S. wrong to blame China for trade imbalance: Roach      "The United States is making a mistake in holding China accountable for its large trade imbalance," said Stephen Roach, Chairman of Morgan Stanley (Asia), on the sideline of China Development Forum in Beijing. Full story  Economists: China's fiscal response swift, forceful     China's fiscal response has been swift and forceful in tackling the global financial crisis, said participants of the China Development Forum 2009 held here Sunday. Ful story      China's economic data  China's eonomic figures for first 2 month   CPI falls to minus 1.6% in Feb. PPI down 4.5% in Feb. Exports plummeted 25.7% year-on-year in February Imports slumped 24.1 percent    China's monthly CPI, PPI in 2008 Jan. Feb. March April May June CPI  +7.1%  +8.7%  +8.3%  +8.5%  +7.7％  +7.1% PPI  +6.1%  +6.6%  +8%  +8.1%  +8.2%  +8.8% July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. CPI  +6.3%   +4.9%   +4.6% +4%  +2.4%  +1.2% PPI  +10%  +10.1%  +9.1%   +6.6%    +2.0%  -1.1% China CPI up 5.9% in 2008 China unveils stimulus package for 10 sectors   Machinery, textile industries  BEIJING, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Support plans for the machinery and textile industries have been drafted and will be submitted to the State Council, the Chinese cabinet, for discussion, according to a media report. Full story Shipbuilding industry BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council adopted a stimulus plan Wednesday for the shipbuilding industry at an executive meeting chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao.  Full story Auto, steel industries  Analysis BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council unveiled a long-awaited support package for the auto and steel sectors Wednesday to boost the two "pillar industries". Under the plan, the government will lower the purchase tax on cars under 1.6 liters from 10 percent to 5 percent from Jan. 20 to Dec. 31 in a bid to stimulate sales. Full story   Electronics and information industry BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The government will boost innovation, increase financial input and promote the use of information technologies in various fields in the next three years, according to an executive meeting of the State Council, or the Cabinet. Full story Light industry, petrochemical sector BEIJING, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The State Council, or China's Cabinet, announced plans to boost the country's light industry and petrochemical sectors in a bid to stimulate the economy.     The country will lift processing trade restrictions on some labor-intensive, technology-intensive, energy-efficient, and environment-friendly products, according to an executive meeting of the State Council on Thursday.  Full story Nonferrous metals, logistics BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council on Wednesday announced support plans for the country's nonferrous metals and logistics sectors.     The product structure of the nonferrous industry should be adjusted to meet the demand of power, transportation, construction, mechanics and light industries, the announcement said. Full story Hu: Hardships and opportunities amid global financial crisis     BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao has called for greater awareness of both hardships and opportunities presented by the global financial crisis in order to offset the impacts of the crisis.  Full story   Premier Wen: China confident of weathering financial crisis     LONDON, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told the Financial Times on Sunday that based on a scientific attitude and pragmatic view he is confident China will weather the global economic crisis.     The confidence, Wen said, comes from a correct judgment of the current situation. He also credited China's robust material foundation and the strong economic system that his country has established during the past 30 years of reform and opening-up.  Full story   China's 4 trillion yuan stimulus to boost economy, domestic demand     BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- China said on Sunday it will loosen credit conditions, cut taxes and embark on a massive infrastructure spending program in a wide-ranging effort to offset adverse global economic conditions by boosting domestic demand.  Full story   China central gov't cashes in another $19 bln for stimulus plan     BEIJING, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's central government has launched a new stimulus plan totaling 130 billion yuan (19 billion U.S. dollars) to boost its economy, an official of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said on Tuesday.  Full story Editor: Chris