Ahead of G-20, China urges care in Fed policy tapering

BEIJING - Reuters

Investors look at the stock price monitor at a private securities company in Shanghai. Asian stock markets were choppy on Aug. 21 as traders waited for hints from the US central bank. AP photo

The U.S. Federal Reserve must consider when and how fast it unwinds its economic stimulus to avoid harming emerging market economies, senior Chinese officials said yesterday.

The warning by China’s Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao and central bank Vice Governor Yi Gang came as economies from Brazil to Indonesia struggle to cope with capital flight as U.S. interest rates rise ahead of an expected tapering off in the Federal Reserve’s bond buying program that unleashed liquidity across the world.

“The U.S. economy is showing some positive signs and is recovering gradually and we welcome this,” Zhu told a briefing ahead of G-20 leaders’ summit in Russia next week.

“But the United States - the main currency issuing country - must consider the spill-over effect of its monetary policy, especially the opportunity and rhythm of its exit from the ultra-loose monetary policy,” Zhu said.

Financial markets are fretting that the U.S. Fed might decide to reduce its monthly bond buying when it meets on Sept 17 and 18.

Zhu said while China faced a severe economic environment at home and abroad, it would keep economic policies stable.

China to refrain from stimulus

China will refrain from providing stimulus to the world’s second-largest economy, which he said was on track to grow around 7.5 percent this year - in line with the government’s target.

The government will instead quicken structural adjustments, including efforts to deal with factory overcapacity, he said.

Speaking at the briefing ahead of the G-20 meeting in St Petersburg on Sept 5 and 6, Vice Governor Yi Gang said the issue of how nations would cope as developed economies tighten their monetary policy would be a focus at the G-20 meeting.

“On monetary policy, the focal point (of G-20) will be on how to minimize the external impact when major developed countries exit or gradually exit quantitative easing, especially causing volatile capital flows in emerging markets and putting pressures on emerging-market currencies,” Yi said.

Yi said a $100 billion foreign-currency fund being discussed by countries that make up the BRICS grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will be set up in the foreseeable future. He said China would provide “a big share” of the funds but he did not give details.

“It will not exceed 50 percent,” he said.

The BRICS’ leaders have agreed to set up the fund to help ward off currency crises.