Yang Jiechi: China confident Europe can solve debt crisis

BEIJING (REUTERS) China has full confidence in Europe and believes policymakers have the capacity to resolve the continent's sovereign debt crisis, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Saturday.

"We have full confidence in the future of Europe," Mr Yang told a news conference on the sidelines of China's annual meeting of parliament, the National People's Congress.

"China has been a firm supporter of Europe's efforts in countering the debt crisis. We hope and we believe that Europe can turn the crisis into opportunities and make new progress in its development," Mr Yang said.

Europe is battling a sovereign debt problem that has ravaged its euro zone single currency area for three years, precipitating a banking crisis and forcing several nations to accept billions of dollars in international aid packages.