China's premier has tried to quell anxiety about his slowing economy as officials at a global finance meeting called for governments to speed up job-creating reforms to stimulate slackening growth, AP reported. In a video message Friday at the meeting of finance ministers and central banks from the Group of 20 major economies, Premier Li Keqiang said Beijing has the tools and resources to combat downward pressure on growth. Also Friday, the head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, called for faster action on reforms promised at a G-20 meeting in 2014. Germany's finance minister ruled out taking part in a new joint stimulus effort. China's central bank governor tried to defuse fears Beijing might devalue its yuan to boost exports. The Chinese hosts wanted the two-day meeting in Shanghai to promote their campaign for a bigger voice in managing global trade and finance.
