JIANGSU ECONOMY SLOWING IN FACE OF GLOBAL CRISIS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SHANGHAI 000490 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/CM TREASURY FOR AMBASSADOR HOLMER, WRIGHT AND TSMITH; TREASURY FOR OASIA/INA - DOHNER, HAARSAGER/WINSHIP; TREASURY FOR CUSHMAN TREAUSRY FOR IMFP SOBEL. MOGHTADER NSC FOR WILDER AND LOI STATE PASS CEA FOR BLOCK STATE PASS USTR FOR STRATFORD/WINTER/MCCARTIN/KATZ/MAIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CH ECON EFIN KIPR SUBJECT: JIANGSU ECONOMY SLOWING IN FACE OF GLOBAL CRISIS ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Government officials and researchers in East China's Jiangsu Province are increasingly concerned about the adverse impact of the global economic slowdown on the province, particularly its large export sector. Achieving more robust domestic consumption to offset the decline in external demand, however, will take time because of long standing structural weaknesses which promote high savings. Although government officials are generally confident Jiangsu will weather the current economic storm, researchers at the provincial academy of social sciences highlighted what they believe are exploitative elements of the U.S.- China economic relationship. End summary. Jiangsu Government: Econ Restructuring Will Take Time -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Jiangsu exporters, particularly textile manufacturers, have suffered from the slowing global economy, according to Provincial Government Deputy Secretary General Wang Quan. Meeting November 5 with the Treasury Department's Special Envoy for the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) Alan Holmer, Wang indicated the provincial government would take measures to assist ailing small and medium enterprises. Although Wang stressed that the provincial government supports the Central Government's policy of encouraging firms to target China's domestic market, as it is unrealistic to expect or even desirable for the previous high growth in exports to continue, he observed that promoting robust domestic consumption would take time. He agreed that supporting exporters in response to a cyclical downturn can be at odds with China's medium-term goal to rebalance growth, but stressed the importance that rebalancing occur at a politically acceptable pace. ¶3. (SBU) Deputy Director of the Jiangsu Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Department Zhao Jin noted foreign-invested firms generate 76% of Jiangsu's exports and, as a result, face a major challenge in reorienting their production away from the international marketplace and toward domestic consumers. When asked whether the Jiangsu authorities are conditioning assistance to exporters on operational restructuring, Wang cited efforts to improve product quality and efficiency, including through purchases of more advanced foreign equipment but did not elaborate on how these steps would strengthen the domestic orientation of the companies receiving assistance. ¶4. (SBU) Despite the recent turmoil, the United States has been China's reference point for modernization of its financial system, Wang stressed. Because China's capital account remains largely closed, Chinese firms still have relatively little experience with modern finance. Wang hoped U.S. financial firms would establish branches in Jiangsu in the future and that Jiangsu financial firms might eventually establish U.S. operations. In reviewing the lessons of the U.S. financial crisis with the Treasury delegation, Wang believed China would soon be taking steps such as creating deposit insurance to set an explicit limit to the government's guarantee of China's banks. China is also reviewing the efficacy of its fragmented financial regulatory system. IPR Protection Important for Province -------------- -- ¶5. (SBU) On the question of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection, Wang stressed violations of IPR are a problem for large Chinese firms looking to establish brands as well as for foreign firms. China's lack of internationally recognized brands has kept the value-added of Chinese produced goods low in comparison to their foreign competitors. Wang said Jiangsu has implemented a "famous brand strategy" to address this, which includes strengthened IPR protection. Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Department Deputy Director Zhao added Jiangsu has three IPR complaint centers established by the Ministry of Commerce and a special court to litigate IPR-related suits. Jiangsu's efforts to build its service industries, notably the outsourcing of software development, demanded the SHANGHAI 00000490 002 OF 003 province take measures to improve IPR protection, he stressed. Real Estate Concerns -------------- -- ¶6. (SBU) Wang expressed concern over real estate prices in Jiangsu. Although housing sales were still rising, the rate of increase had slowed considerably and the potential exists for a substantial fall in real estate prices. Prices, however, have remained stable so far as most buyers have been purchasing homes for their own use and not for speculation. Tax revenue growth has also slowed, signaling a slowdown overall in provincial economic growth. Provincial Financial Department Director Pan Yonghe indicated, despite the declining economic indicators, that because the banking system still remained highly liquid and China's fiscal position is strong, the government has the means to support the economy. Jiangsu Researchers Skeptical of USG, Corporate Motives In Econ Downturn -------------- -- ¶7. (SBU) Jiangsu is likely facing two to three years of "strong economic challenges" as a result of the current global economic downturn, researchers from the Jiangsu Academy of Social Sciences (JASS) told Ambassador Holmer November 6. Currently, the value of Jiangsu's exports has surpassed the value of its GDP, said one researcher, making the province vulnerable to the slowdown in export growth that is already forcing substantial numbers of the province's small and medium-size exporters out of business. This in turn will affect China's national economy, since Jiangsu accounts for 11 percent of China's GDP. ¶8. (SBU) The scholars are not optimistic that Jiangsu will be able to quickly transform its economic structure to better offset these challenges. First, reorienting the Jiangsu economy to higher value added output is difficult because the Jiangsu labor force has a low educational level that cannot be changed in the short term. Second, Jiangsu officials have fewer options for funding technological transformation because the Central Government leaves the province only 48 percent of the revenues it collects. Third, new labor protections means workers cannot be simply laid off without social security payments. Fourth, a large component of the Central Government's stimulus program (RMB 2-4 trillion) is targeted at new railroad construction. This is investment, and will not directly stimulate the consumption needed for more balanced economic growth. ¶9. (SBU) Note: The JASS scholars said that their institute has unique access to the Jiangsu Communist Party Secretary and Governor because JASS holds biannual conferences in which their research is presented directly to those and other top provincial officials. End note. ¶10. (SBU) One scholar questioned why Microsoft was turning the computer screens of suspected pirated Windows XP users black and postulated a ploy by Microsoft to push consumers to use its Vista operating system. (Note: According to Yahoo! Tech, Microsoft in late October began using information from its online software updating process to detect suspected pirated operating system copies and turn the PC desktop screens black every 60 minutes. End note.) ¶11. (SBU) One researcher observed many ordinary Chinese, in fact, feel U.S. pressure on China is unfair because they believe China suffers from its trade with the United States. Chinese workers manufacture products for export to the United States that are better than those sold in China's domestic market. The factories that produce these goods, however, pollute China's environment and are heavy energy users. Then, the local currency value of foreign exchange earnings from the export sales are whittled down by appreciation of the Chinese currency. A third scholar cited a popular expression, "When the U.S. economy gets a cold, the global economy has to take the SHANGHAI 00000490 003 OF 003 medicine." In the view of another researcher, the housing price bubble created by the U.S. financial system, the hollowing out of U.S. manufacturing despite its technological edge, and Americans' excessive debt-fueled consumption underlies the present turmoil. The strong complementarity of the U.S. and Chinese economies, however, though a source of trade friction, also means the countries must work together. ¶12. (U) Beijing Financial Attache David Loevinger has cleared on this cable. SCHUCHAT