China 'plays constructive role' in G20

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The latest capital contribution to the International Monetary Fund will enhance the organization's ability to tackle the European debt crisis and increase the say of emerging economies, analysts said.

China announced on Monday that it will contribute $43 billion to the $430 billion boost to the IMF.

The contribution can be used by all IMF members, the People's Bank of China, the central bank, said in a statement on Tuesday.

President Hu Jintao, addressing the G20 Summit on Monday in the Mexican resort of Los Cabos, said that China supports increasing the resources of the IMF and enhancing its ability to tackle the crisis and provide emergency assistance.

Hu also called on the group to continue supporting Europe "in a constructive and cooperative way".

The financial contribution is "a positive thing", and EU countries will welcome the decision, the EU ambassador to China, Markus Ederer, said on Tuesday at a speech at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.

China has been playing "a constructive role" in supporting the EU to tackle the crisis and, "If China expresses confidence in the eurozone, it is a very important signal to the market," Ederer said.

But Ederer emphasized the support from the IMF is "the second line of defense", as he stressed the EU's own responsibilities.

G20 finance chiefs agreed in April to increase the financial firepower of the IMF by more than $430 billion.

The IMF said that it will tap the new resources to shield the global economy from the European debt crisis only if it uses up its existing resources.

One of the IMF's principles is that "the more you contribute, the more rights and interests you share", and China's increased investment in the IMF will give it extra clout, said Xiong Hou, a researcher in the institute of European studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

But in comparison to developed countries, China's IMF share is still relatively small, Xiong added.

The G20 Summit in London in 2009 agreed on a $500 billion increase in IMF resources and China invested $50 billion.

During the summit in 2010, the G20 leaders confirmed the 6-percent shift of quota shares to emerging and developing countries in the IMF, and were committed to achieving this by the annual meeting in 2017.

If the reform is carried out, China's quota in the IMF will be increased to 6.39 percent.

The EU's total quota in the fund is about 30 percent, followed by the US with about 17 percent.

In the Monday address, Hu said implementing the IMF quota reform is an urgent task.

During a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of the G20 Summit on Monday, Hu said that China will continue to support Europe's efforts in promoting integration and maintaining the stability of the euro.

A united, stable and prosperous Europe serves the interests of the world, including China, Hu said. The EU is China's largest export destination.

Merkel said Europe appreciates China's confidence in the continent and its support for European integration.

She also noted that a steady, robust Chinese economy is an important factor in any global economic recovery.

China will continue to pursue a proactive fiscal, and prudent monetary policy, Hu said in his address at the G20 meeting.

The economy as a whole has maintained growth stability as it adjusts its economic structure and improves the standard of living, he said.

About the broadcaster:

Emily Cheng is an editor at China Daily. She was born in Sydney, Australia and graduated from the University of Sydney with a degree in Media, English Literature and Politics. She has worked in the media industry since starting university and this is the third time she has settled abroad - she interned with a magazine in Hong Kong 2007 and studied at the University of Leeds in 2009.