Haruhiko Kuroda, president of the Asian Development Bank, told Xinhua on Monday that China can play a key role in the world's recovery by maintaining relatively high growth.

The Chinese government has announced a sweeping stimulus program, including a 4-trillion-yuan (US$585 billion) stimulus package that Kuroda thought would certainly work.

"The 8 percent growth target unveiled by Beijing recently is still remarkable, and quite high among the world economies, amid the crisis," Kuroda said.

"The Chinese government addressed the crisis promptly and is making the best efforts to help bring the world economy back on track," he added.

Lianhe Zaobao also said that through its 30-year reform and opening-up, China has made great progress in its economic and social development , which proved the feasibility and necessity of the development road with Chinese characteristics.

The newspaper said this year's two sessions of China's top legislative body and top advisory body have become a focus of the world thanks to the country's special role in the global financial crisis.

Every single word from Beijing concerning the economy could likely create a "butterfly effect" miles away, the report said.

Overseas media emphasized Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's work report to the second session of the 11th NPC.

Some western major newspapers, such as the Wall Street Journal Asia and the International Herald Tribune, highlighted Wen's report in their headlines.

Nouvelles d'Europe, one of France's foremost Chinese dailies, said Wen outlined in his work report a road map to recovery and future development for China. That road map, the newspaper reported, showed that in the face of the crisis, the government attaches great importance to a long-term development with efforts to turn challenges into opportunities and deepen reforms in all fields.

The newspaper also expressed hope in its article that the confidence shown in Wen's report could spread to the rest of the world and play a positive role in pulling the world out of its mire.

(Xinhua News Agency March 11, 2009)