Premier Wen Jiabao said China's economy was showing «positive changes» but called for more efforts to combat the impact of the global financial crisis, state media reported Sunday. The economy showed «better than expected positive changes in the first quarter» due to Beijing's huge stimulus, Wen said on the sidelines of a planned Asian summit in Thailand, the Xinhua News Agency, state radio and other outlets reported. Citing improved investment, consumption and trade figures, Wen said some segments of the economy «are in a process of gradual recovery,» Xinhua said. That data were reported earlier, and the premier gave no forecast of first-quarter economic growth, which China is due to report in the next few days. Some analysts see a recovery taking shape in China as the 4 trillion yuan ($586 billion) stimulus boosts credit growth and demand for steel and other materials, according to a report of Associated Press. China's economy is forecast to grow by at least 5 percent this year _ the fastest rate of any major country, though down from last year's 9 percent and 13 percent in 2007. Chinese banks have avoided the turmoil that is battering Western financial systems.
