Experts weigh in on President Xi's visit to the US

Shada Islam, policy director of Friends of Europe, a leading think tank in Brussels. [File photo]

Shada Islam, policy director of Friends of Europe, a leading think tank in Brussels

It is very difficult at the moment to gauge exactly what is happening – and what will happen - regarding the Chinese economy and Chinese growth rates. It's reassuring to hear President Xi's comments. It means he will do his utmost to ensure growth rates remain buoyant. And that China knows how important its economic policies are for the rest of the world. The message is an important one, especially after the recent market turmoil. It's a message many in the world are anxious to hear.

All of China's partners want President Xi to press on with the promised economic reforms and are seeking reassurances that this will happen. The message is not dissimilar from what the British Chancellor George Osborne has been saying during his recent trip to China. He said that even if the Chinese economy slows down, it will still be a massive source of growth in the coming years. It's also what the International Monetary Fund is urging for when it says further structural reforms are needed to open China's economy.