PARIS/ST. PETERSBURG, July 31 (Itar-Tass) - Washington has become aware of how powerful China’s economic development is and changed its tactics in relations with that country, the former head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dominique Strauss-Kahn, told Itar-Tass and Rossiya 24 TV channel.
“It seems to me that the United States has become aware of the power of China’s economic development. It has come to the conclusion that it cannot pursue its former policy, regarding China as a densely populated country with a high pace of economic growth, but without a strong political influence,” Dominique Strauss-Kahn said. “I believe that the United States like all other countries of the world has realized that China will play a major role in the coming years and decades,” he stressed.
According to the French economist, Beijing has also realized that, but it puts to the forefront a number of domestic tasks. “They have a host of problems from the point of view of economic growth, environmental pollution, inequality, financial system, migration of the population and the outflow of rural population to the cities. I can continue, the list is vast,” he said. “As a result, China is not going to expand its sphere of influence, although it realizes its power, and I believe that such policy is in better accord with traditions of Confucianism.
He stressed that in relations between the United States and China, “the sides have managed to reach certain mutual understanding, respect, and this is a new factor. “That is exactly why the US is not acting head on, it attacks China not the way this was done several years ago,” he marked. “It is not blowing the trumpets about the fact that the value of yuan is pressed down, which results in unequal conditions on the market. Although such statements can still be heard, they have come to the background. Speeches and actions nowadays focus on absolutely other things - attempts to surround China,” he stressed.
As for Russia and Europe, the former IMF chief believes “it is advantageous for them to establish a balance in relations with China.” “Such relations could make it possible to oppose a growing power of America in a more coordinated manner, together, and not just be witnesses of confrontation of the United States and China,” he summed up.