Premier emphasizes ensuring economic stability

Premier Li Keqiang stressed the need to ensure effective implementation of the policy package to stabilize the economy and keep expanding the country's economic rebound, when he chaired a seminar on Monday soliciting opinions on the draft Government Work Report.

Representatives from the academic, business, education, science and technology, culture, health and sports sectors, as well as grassroots members of the public, attended the meeting during which they discussed the report, which will be submitted to the annual session of the National People's Congress, the top legislature, in March.

After hearing suggestions from nine representatives, Li said that China made new progress in its development last year through arduous efforts. The country responded to the economic shocks from COVID-19 and other greater-than-expected factors with resolute and swift action.

It was not easy, but after painstaking efforts China has kept the overall economic performance stable with more than 12 million new urban jobs created and the consumer price index growing mildly at 2 percent, he said.

The Chinese economy has achieved an average annual growth rate of 5.2 percent over the past five years, with governments and departments at all levels taking a series of concrete measures to solve problems related to people's wellbeing, the premier said.

Given that the Chinese economy has started to rebound early this year, it is important to proceed with concrete efforts in order to keep the economy growing in a stable manner as it still faces many risks and challenges, he added.