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銆€銆€Premier Wen Jiabao is the only non-American on a new top-10 list compiled by United States broadcasting giant ABC that names people with the most influence on the U.S. economy.
銆€銆€The American Broadcasting Company said Wen's influence was massive, despite the 67-year-old Chinese premier's geographical distance from the United States.
銆€銆€The TV broadcaster said the big 10 are the people who have had the most impact on the world's largest economy since 2000.
銆€銆€Wen was listed behind U.S. regulators Henry Paulson, Ben Bernanke, Timothy Geithner, Sheila Bair and Alan Greenspan. Former AIG CEO Maurice Greenberg also made the list just ahead of Wen.
銆€銆€ABC explained why it included Wen by saying: "Wen Jiabao, the premier of China, is driving a roaring engine."
銆€銆€The article that accompanied the list said China will be increasingly important to the United States.
銆€銆€"The world's most populous country is quickly rising to the top of the global economic heap, with a growth rate that has barely been touched by recession," the article said. "In fact, China recently overtook Germany to become the world's third-largest economy."
銆€銆€ABC said the 10 people on the list all have either great power or control a vast fortune - or both.
銆€銆€The top 10 list is completed by JPMorgan Chase chairman Jamie Dimon, former Bank of America CEO Kenneth Lewis and investment guru Warren Buffett.
銆€銆€Chinese experts said yesterday the fact that Wen made the list was further proof of improved Sino-U.S. ties. They said the United States was acknowledging China's rise as an economic power, in part because it wanted to urge Beijing to compromise on issues, including currency and climate change.
銆€銆€"Apparently, China's rising economic strength prompted the ABC to vote for Wen," said Fan Ying, a professor of economics at the Beijing-based China Foreign Affairs University. "Wen collected the title on behalf of China."
銆€銆€Fan said China had influenced the U.S. economy because of its massive exports and its significant purchases of Treasury bonds.
銆€銆€The fact that Americans consumed so many Chinese products expedited the outflow of labor-intensive industries from the United States and changed its industrial landscape, she said.
銆€銆€Beijing is now Washington's largest foreign creditor, holding $800 billion in U.S. government bonds at the end of September.
銆€銆€"Washington has never been in such a dire need of Chinese funds," she said.
銆€銆€"It wants Beijing to not massively cut the Treasury holding so the United States has sufficient capital to continue doling out the ailing financial sector," Fan said.
銆€銆€He Maochun, director of the Research Center of Economy and Diplomacy at Tsinghua University, said Wen is widely believed to be the driving force behind the $586-billion stimulus package launched by Beijing a year ago, which has helped keep Chinese economy afloat during the global economic recession.
銆€銆€Wen's inclusion on the list was welcomed by many Chinese.
銆€銆€"This shows the Chinese economy carries a great deal of weight," a netizen named "dongxue" said on 163.com, a major online news site.
銆€銆€But experts warned that the United States might be expecting Beijing to shoulder more responsibility for global finances.
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