New ways of achieving debt sustainability beyond the enhanced HIPC Initiative

In 1996 the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative was launched by the Bretton Woods institutions to reduce the external debt burden of low-income countries (LICs) to sustainable levels in a reasonably short period of time because debt constitutes an obstacle to sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. In some HIPCs, however, debt sustainability has been in danger despite debt relief under the HIPC Initiative. Debt relief is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for development. It can do no more than play a catalytic role. The question, then, is how to achieve debt sustainability beyond the HIPC Initiative.     

2002年中国成品油市场形势分析

2002年世界石油市场总体疲软，但依然存在走强的因素。加入WTO给中国石油市场带来重大变化，石油供应将总体充足，需求增长稳中有降。其中汽油需求增长约2％，供大于求，出口量将增加。柴油需求增长较快，产量有所增长，并以一定量的进口作为需求旺季的补充。LPG需求增长率可达7％－8％，产量上升，进口量继续下降。煤油需求增长预计保持在6．5％左右，产量有所上升，仍将保持一定的进口量。化工轻油需求增长率为3％左右，产量和净出口量均略有增长。受国际石油市场弱势的影响，预计2002年国内成品油价格的总体水平不会大幅上涨。