Jean-Sébastien Jacques: China’s ability to alleviate poverty impresses me most
By Sheng
Chuyi, Yu Ling
The
China Development Forum (CDF) 2019, with the theme “Greater Opening-up for
Win-Win Cooperation”, kicked off in Beijing on March 23. During the event,
Jean-Sébastien Jacques, CEO of Rio Tinto, said that China has greatly impressed
him, especially when it comes to poverty alleviation.
Hosted
by the Development Research Centre of the State Council, the CDF invited
leaders of global businesses and international organizations, as well as
foreign and Chinese scholars, to attend the forum to enhance exchanges and
mutual trust, and to promote pragmatic cooperation and high-level dialogues.
During
an exclusive interview with People’s Daily Online, Jean-Sébastien Jacques
shared his views on China’s unified foreign investment law, the Belt and Road
Initiative and sustainable development.
“I’m
very optimistic about the future,” Jacques noted when talking about the
partnership with China.
“We’ve
been cooperating with China for more than one hundred years, although we have
only run for 146 years. Our first shipment was a borax shipment from California
to China. Our first shipment of iron ore was in 1973. Since then, we have
shipped more than 2.5 billion tons of iron ore to China. Our relationship is
not only about selling iron ore, copper, borax, and diamond; we are buying more
and more from China. In the last ten years, we’ve bought 10 billion dollars of
goods and services from China, 1.3 billion dollars last year only. It’s about enhancing
the relationship to the next level,” he said.
“The
all-round opening-up policy will help us move forward. I’m sure that there will
be lots of opportunities for many industries.”
Jacques
emphasized that the new unified foreign investment law is “a very good piece of
news.” “It will attract more capital and foreign investment into China. I have
no doubt there will be more opportunities in the future. We will work with the
existing partnerships we have and make good use of the new policy to create
wealth for the benefit of both China and Rio Tinto.”
Jacques
first traveled to China 20 years ago. He was amazed by
China’s new buildings, urbanization, and infrastructure construction.
“The
most impressive thing to me is China’s ability to lift people out of poverty. I
have never seen any nations lift so many people out of poverty as China has
done,” he noted.
Jacques
also believed Rio Tinto could benefit from the Belt and Road Initiative. “There
are two key drivers for Rio Tinto. One is GDP growth, and the other one is
trade. The Belt and Road Initiative kicks both of these boxes. It is good for
Rio Tinto and the mining industry,” he said.
Rio
Tinto recently released reports on climate change and sustainable development.
“We want to be part of the solution. One is the quality of the product to
improve energy efficiency. The other one is investing in new technologies,” he
noted.
Jacques
also spoke highly of China’s commitment to improve environmental protection.
“China
has done a lot. I came to China four times last year, and I saw the blue sky every
time. Maybe I am lucky, but I don’t
believe so. The changes have taken place already.”
“We are
looking forward to a closer relationship, win-win benefits, and partnerships.
Our future is positive,” Jacques concluded.
Source: People's
Daily Online
Mr. Jean-Sébastien
Jacques is having interview with People’s Daily Online. (Photo: People’s Daily
Online)
Jean-Sébastien Jacques: China’s ability to alleviate poverty impresses me most
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