Li stresses key role of consumption

Premier urges nation to strive for 2020 targets amid uncertainties, complex environment

Premier Li Keqiang called on Monday for greater efforts to unleash the potential of consumption in driving economic growth, saying that the strength of the market must be fully mobilized to develop new business models.

Speaking at a video link symposium with provincial governors on the performance of the economy, the premier highlighted the need to accelerate integration of online and offline spending and to promote the coordinated development of new and traditional consumption.

In promoting the transformation and upgrading of the economy, the government must adopt concrete steps to push forward the development of new infrastructure and urbanization initiatives as well as major projects, he said.

Li stressed the importance of exploring new growth drivers in environmental protection and the research and development of key technologies.

His remarks came as the country's key economic data for August and September pointed to a stronger economic recovery.

China's manufacturing purchasing managers' index stood at 51.5 last month, compared with August's reading of 51, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. A reading above 50 signifies growth in factory output.

Non-manufacturing PMI, which gauges sentiment in the services and construction sectors, stood at 55.9 in September, compared with 55.2 in August.

However, consumer spending remained a drag on growth, even though retail sales returned to growth in August for the first time this year, rising 0.5 percent year-on-year, according to the NBS.

Li said the Chinese economy has managed to stabilize its fundamentals and attain the momentum of steady recovery despite immense difficulties, which was a hard-won result.

However, it would still require strenuous effort to reach the targets set for this year, especially given the complex and challenging internal and external environment and rising uncertainties, he said.