Wen, Putin lash out at US over economic crisis

[MrBurns]

From the ABC site - worth a look, their assessment is dire and they blame the US

Chinese and Russian leaders Wen Jiabao and Vladimir Putin have blamed the United States for causing the global economic crisis on a gloomy first day of the Davos forum.

Both called for a new attitude by President Barack Obama, while deepening pessimism over the future of the global economy enshrouded the World Economic Forum.

Chinese Premier Wen said America's voracious appetite for debt and "blind pursuit of profit" had led to the worst recession since the Great Depression which has rocked the 2,500 strong political and business elite gathered in the Swiss mountain resort.

Prime Minister Putin said the disappearance of some Wall Street titans over the past six months testified to the errors committed.

Premier Wen blamed the crisis on "inappropriate macroeconomic policies of some economies" and "prolonged low savings and high consumption," in a lightly veiled attack on the United States.

He blasted the "excessive expansion of financial institutions in blind pursuit of profit and the lack of self-discipline among financial institutions and ratings agencies" while the "failure" of regulators had allowed the spread of toxic derivatives.

Premier Wen said the crisis had posed "severe challenges" for China and that it needed 8.0 per cent growth in 2009 to maintain social stability while the International Monetary Fund predicted 6.7 per cent for this year.

The Chinese leader called for faster reform of international financial institutions and for a "new world order" for the economy.

The Russian Prime Minister followed him to the podium and said the crisis had been a "perfect storm".

He also took aim at US banks and the outgoing US administration.

"Although the crisis was simply hanging in the air, the majority strove to get their share of the pie, be it one dollar or one billion, and did not want to notice the rising wave," he said.

Prime Minister Putin insisted that he would not join critics of the United States, but added: "I just want to remind you that just a year ago, American delegates speaking from this rostrum emphasised the US economy's fundamental stability and its cloudless prospects."

Condoleezza Rice, when US secretary of state, gave a speech in Davos last year saying the US economy was safe.

"Today investment banks, the pride of Wall Street, have virtually ceased to exist. In just 12 months they have posted losses exceeding the profits they made in the last 25 years. This example alone reflects the real situation better than any criticism," said Prime Minister Putin.

Prime Minister Putin called for a constructive attitude from President Obama in international affairs.

"We wish the new team success. I hope they are willing to cooperate constructively," he said.

US tensions with China have been raised in recent days with new US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner saying President Obama believes China manipulates its currency to gain an edge in trade.

"In meeting the international financial crisis, it is imperative for the two countries to enhance cooperation, that is my message to the US administration," Premier Wen said.

Three decades of formalised ties between the United States and communist China had shown that "a peaceful and harmonious relationship will make both sides winners, while a confrontational one will leave both losers," he added.

- AFP

 

[investorpaul]

You gotta love Putins quote

 

[numbercruncher]

Both China and Russias wave success was on the back of dodgy unsustainable us fiscal policy .... they are all as guilty as each other .....

Let it all burn down so it can grow back I say ....

 

[GumbyLearner]

You gotta love Putins quote

Heres a fantastic one from Putin to the CEO of Dell Computers.

Dell founder Michael Dell learned the hard way not to patronise an ex-KGB agent after his sales pitch to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attracted a caustic response.

In a question and answer session following a 40-minute speech by Putin at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Dell asked Putin how he could help Russia to expand its technology and make the best use of IT talent.

"You see, the trick is that we don't need any help," a prickly Putin retorted.

"We don't need help. We are not invalids. We don't have limited mental capacity."

Putin was quick to point out that computers and the internet were used widely in Russia and Russian schools and that the country's software developers "are some of the best in the world".

LOL