Days after US President Donald Trump set the tone with his ‘America first’ inauguration speech, a Chinese diplomat today asserted that even though China didn’t want world leadership it could take up the role in the need of the hour.
The remarks by Zhang Jun, director general of the Chinese foreign ministry's international economics department, came during a briefing with foreign journalists.
With China topping the bill at the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Xi Jinping portrayed his country as a leader and hinted at its desire to play an even bigger role globally.
Zhang, taking his President’s point further, said, "If anyone were to say China is playing a leadership role in the world I would say it's not China rushing to the front but rather the front runners have stepped back leaving the place to China.”
"If China is required to play that leadership role then China will assume its responsibilities," he added.
Zhand stressed that China is the world's second-largest economy and other countries also seek it help for their economic growth.
"We still hope that the United States and other Western economies can continue to make an even bigger contribution to the world economic recovery. We've heard Trump announce that the United States will achieve four percent growth and we're very happy about that," he added.
Donald Trump on Friday had vowed to end an "American carnage" of rusted factories and crime.
