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China will not launch 'Buy Chinese' plan

By Lu Haoting (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-02-09 11:32

Two businessmen walk in front of a board with "made-in-China" characters at a trade fair in Shanghai, Nov 7, 2006. [Asianewsphoto]

China will not launch a "Buy Chinese" initiative, which could discriminate against imports, to stimulate its economy, a top Chinese government official said today at a press conference.

"A product's competitiveness in the marketplace should be based entirely on quality and price (and not on country of origin)," said Jiang Zengwei, vice-minister of the Ministry of Commerce.

"Although 80 percent of China's market demand is met by domestic production, China still needs to import a wide variety of products, such as industrial raw materials, luxury goods and agricultural produce," Jiang said, adding that China's imports are growing.

US President Barack Obama came under criticisms of trade protectionism after he raised a "Buy American" initiative as part of his economic stimulus package.