China is making positive progress in addressing the challenges in economic development and the country's growth is crucial to the world, said Bank for International Settlements (BIS) General Manager Augustin Carstens.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China has full confidence in achieving this year's economic growth target and will continue to play its role as the biggest engine of world economic growth, when meeting with major international economic organizations, Carstens included, in Beijing.
The foreign dignitaries also included President of the New Development Bank Dilma Rousseff, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva, President of the World Bank Group Ajay Banga, and Director-General of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Beijing, Carstens highlighted that Chinese policies governing the property market will start to reinvigorate the market and reduce uncertainty for home owners.
"From my conversations here, I feel confident that progress is being made. And I think more than anything, the measures that were just announced were quite appropriate in trying to establish a floor on the prices of real estate and to start to reinvigorate the property market in China. I think that's very important for employment, it's very important to reduce uncertainty among the household sector," he said.
"Through time those issues will be digested by the Chinese economy and by Chinese society. And hopefully, that will give ground to additional strong growth in the Chinese economy," said Carstens.
He also underscored the importance of China's green transition efforts.
"In the world, we need a strong China growth, and the transition towards the greener economy, greener society is very, very important. I see Beijing much greener. I mean from the airplane you see a lot of green, a lot of trees. I think the green transition represents opportunities, and I think you have positioned yourself to grab them," he said.
BIS chief expects steady growth for China's economy
Instead of pursuing their dreams of a bright future, many youths in Gaza are ending up with their dreams shattered due to the escalating Palestine-Israel conflict.
Nineteen-year-old Mohammed Al Bahri from Gaza City is one of them.
Mohammed was a high school graduate with excellent grades and was successfully admitted to a local medical college last year. He had hopes of becoming a doctor after graduating from the college. Unfortunately, his dream and university life were both cut short after suffering a debilitating injury from as missile strike.
In February, Mohammed, the only boy and also pillar in his family, ventured out to find some food together with several other youths, but was hit by Israeli drone missile attacks.
One of Mohammed's companions was killed on the site, and he himself was seriously injured.
"I started running with a sense of extreme fear and panic, trying to escape to a safe place with my friends. I tried to avoid being tracked by the drone. But when I was running down the street, another drone fired a missile at me. The explosion blew me away and got me falling heavily to the ground. I screamed loudly in pain. It was so painful. I tried to stand up but found that my leg was seriously injured with broken bones, and was bleeding profusely. Five minutes later, another missile hit me," he said.
The attack cost Mohammed his right leg, but his ordeal did not end there.
Since October this year, the Israel Defense Forces continued to increase military operations in northern Gaza, including Beit Lahia, where Mohammed lived.
Mohammed had no choice but to embark on the road to escape.
"We walked on and on until we met Israeli soldiers. They treated me like an able-bodied person, completely disregarding my injury. They checked me with a scanner, then told me to go south. I walked from the Indonesia Hospital to Gaza City. I walked for three hours because of the injury," he said.
Now, Mohammed is no longer able to engage in heavy physical labor and can only rely on the meager income earned from a small booth to eke out a living for his family.
"This war completely affected my life. I have nothing now. The road to healing is long and arduous. My dreams have been shattered," he added.
War dashes hopes for normal life for Gazan youth
