"Given the current fluctuations in exchange rates, an improved financial services system will help SMEs better cope with the business downturn."

Zheng Qun, a senior analyst at Shenzhen Onetouch, a market research firm, saying that an improved financial system will help mitigate the funding woes of SMEs. According to a recent report published by Shenzhen Onetouch Business Service and Shenzhen-based Wanren Market Research, more than 70 percent of the SMEs in the Pearl River Delta region are facing an acute shortage of funds.

"Trade protectionism has been rising in Europe in recent years. We hope the European Union will pay full attention to these issues, create a good atmosphere and environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and provide the necessary facilities."

Qi Mei, counselor from the department of European affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying that Chinese enterprises investing in Europe often face tough problems and obstacles.

"For the foreseeable future, I think China's growth will be around 7 percent."

Yi Gang, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China, saying that fears over China's economic growth slowing are unfounded. Dismissing concerns that China's economy is heading for a hard landing, Yi says that the third-quarter figures show the economy is rebounding.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 10/18/2013 page18)