Beijing - Chinese Premier Li Qiang met the press after the closing of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress on Monday.

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Chinese premier stresses people-centered development philosophy

Beijing - Chinese Premier Li Qiang stressed people-centered development philosophy on Monday.

"The ultimate aim of the work of the Party and the government is to improve the well-being of the people," said Li at a press conference, vowing to make solid efforts on every piece of work concerning the people's livelihood.

Most people do not keep their eyes on GDP growth all the time. What they care more about are the things that happen in the everyday life like housing, employment, income, education, medical services, and environment, Li said. "Therefore, the government must always plan and carry out its work in light of what the people feel and act according to the people's aspirations."

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Chinese premier pledges to focus efforts on high-quality development

Beijing - Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday pledged to focus efforts on promoting high-quality development.

As the world's second largest economy, China has made great progress in economic and social development, but its development is still imbalanced and inadequate, Li told a press conference held after the conclusion of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Li added that any aggregate volume when divided by the 1.4 billion population will become a small per capita figure.

Going forward, the focus of China's development will be shifted from providing for people's basic needs toward delivering a better life quality for the people, said the premier.

In particular, Li said China will enhance the capacity in science and technology as well as innovation, accelerate the building of a modern industrial system and advance transition toward green development.

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Reaching 2023 GDP growth target requires redoubled efforts: Chinese premier

Beijing - To achieve the 2023 gross domestic product (GDP) growth target of around 5 percent on the current high base of China's economic output is no easy task and requires redoubled efforts, Premier Li Qiang said Monday.

Li said stabilizing economic growth is a challenging task not just for China but for all countries in the world this year given the many factors of uncertainty and instability.

China will keep to the general principles of prioritizing stability and seeking progress while maintaining stability, and push for a turnaround in the country's overall economic performance, Li told a press conference held after the conclusion of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

On stability, the emphasis will be placed on ensuring stable growth, employment and prices, and the key to seeking progress lies in making new advancement in high-quality development, he said.

China will make good use of a number of policy mixes in leveraging macro policies, expanding demand, advancing reform and innovation, and preventing and defusing risks, Li said, adding that the country will enrich, adjust and improve these policies in the course of implementation.

Li pointed out that China's development is supported by multiple advantages, including a vast market, a complete industrial system, abundant human resources, solid foundation for development, and most importantly, notable institutional strength.

Noting that China's economy is stabilizing and picking up in the past two months and some international organizations have raised their projections for China's economic growth this year, Li said he is fully confident in the prospect of the country's economy.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets the press after the closing of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2023. Vice premiers Ding Xuexiang, He Lifeng, Zhang Guoqing and Liu Guozhong attended the press conference. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

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China to continue to deepen reform, opening up: premier

Beijing - China will keep to the direction of socialist market economic reform, promote higher-level opening up and inject stronger vitality into development by deepening reform and opening up, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said Monday.

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Premier voices full confidence in China's economic outlook

Beijing - Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday voiced full confidence in the prospect of the country's economy, saying that it will break winds and waves and sail toward a bright future.

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Institutional strength an advantage for China's economic development: premier

Beijing - Chinese Premier Li Qiang said Monday that the notable institutional strength is one of the advantages for China's economic development.

China is facing multiple advantages and disadvantages in its economic development, Li told a press conference after the conclusion of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress.

Its huge market, complete industrial system, rich supply of human resources, solid development foundation, and institutional strength have been supporting the country's development, Li said.

Noting that disadvantages are challenging not only China but also the rest of the world, Li said the Chinese people have always managed to pull through difficult times and achieve new progress.

Citing several stories of Chinese heroes, the premier highlighted that Chinese people, with resilience, tenacity and perseverance, have never been overwhelmed by any difficulty.

Li said the economic performance over the past about two months has demonstrated that the Chinese economy is stabilizing and picking up again, and some international institutions have raised their forecasts for China's 2023 economic growth.

"I believe the Chinese economy will brave the wind and waves and sail toward a brighter future," Li said.

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Chinese premier expresses confidence in HK, Macao's bright future

Beijing - Chinese Premier Li Qiang said Monday that Hong Kong and Macao will enjoy an even brighter future with the full support from the central government.

"I'm confident that Hong Kong and Macao will strengthen their position and role, with the strong backing of the motherland and the institutional safeguards of the 'one country, two systems' policy," Li said at a press conference.

The central government has always attached high importance to helping the two special administrative regions leverage their unique strength, Li said.

Since their return to the motherland, with the support of the motherland, Hong Kong's status as a global financial, shipping and trading center has been strengthened, and Macao has also built itself into a world-renowned tourism and leisure center, he added.

The central government will give full support to Hong Kong and Macao in integrating into the country's overall development, growing their economy, improving people's livelihood, and further building their global competitiveness, Li said.

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China's private enterprises to enjoy better environment, broader space for development: premier

Beijing - Private enterprises in China will enjoy a better environment and broader space for development, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said Monday.

The government will step up efforts to foster a business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized, treat companies of all types of ownership as equals, and protect the property rights of enterprises and the rights and interests of entrepreneurs in accordance with law, Li told a press conference.

"We will create a level playing field for all kinds of business entities and further support private enterprises in growing and thriving," Li said.

Thanks to a super-sized market with huge demand, China has a lot of new sectors and new racing tracks that offer vast opportunities for private entrepreneurs, Li said.

Li also stressed that China's commitment to the development of the private sector is unequivocal and steadfast.

The policy of unswervingly consolidating and developing the public sector and unswervingly encouraging, supporting and guiding the development of the non-public sector is a significant element of China's basic economic system, Li said. "This is a long-term policy that has not changed in the past and will not change in the future."

Li also called on private entrepreneurs to carry forward the entrepreneurial spirit and strengthen confidence.

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China to step up policy support for employment: premier

Beijing - China will continue to pursue an employment-first strategy and increase government support to boost job creation, Premier Li Qiang said Monday.

In particular, support will be heightened in terms of employment services and technical training, while multiple steps will be taken to stabilize and expand employment, Li said at a press conference, responding to a question on China's employment situation this year.

The premier also promised to support and regulate the development of new forms of employment.

Noting that this year China expects a record high of 11.58 million college graduates entering the workforce, Li said such a large number certainly adds pressure to employment.

"But if we look at it from a development perspective, it is a good thing, because with so many young people entering the workforce, they will inject energy and vitality into our society," said the premier.

China will further expand employment channels, and help and support young people to realize their personal values through hard work, Li added.

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Rich supply of human resources remains China's notable strength: premier

Beijing - A rich supply of human resources remains China's notable strength, as its demographic dividend has not disappeared and its talent dividend is in the making, Premier Li Qiang said Monday.

The driving force for China's development remains strong and robust, Li told a press conference after the conclusion of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, China's national legislature.

China has nearly 900 million working-age population and 15 million people join the workforce annually, he noted.

"When assessing demographic dividend, we shall not just look at the sheer size of the population but also look at the scale of high-caliber workforce," he said.

More than 240 million people have received higher education in China, and the average length of education received by newcomers into the workforce has increased to 14 years, according to the premier.

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China's COVID-19 response completely right, highly effective: premier

Beijing - Chinese Premier Li Qiang said Monday that China's COVID-19 response strategies and measures are completely right and have delivered highly effective outcomes.

It took less than two months for China, a highly populous country, to achieve a smooth transition in COVID-19 response and resume normal economic and social order, which is indeed remarkable, Li told a press conference.

Noting that there are still risks of virus transmission, Li said China will continue to follow the evolving epidemic situation and build up its capacity for early warning and forecast.

Efforts will also be made to strengthen medical and health service systems at all levels, speed up the development of new vaccines and medicines, and keep communication and cooperation with the international community, Li added.

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Early restoration of normal exchanges across Strait requires joint efforts: premier

Beijing - The early restoration of normal exchanges and regular cooperation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is a shared aspiration and requires joint efforts of both sides, said Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday.

Li made the remarks at a press conference held after the conclusion of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

The Chinese mainland will continue to promote economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation across the Strait on the basis of the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, Li noted.

He also expressed hopes that more Taiwan compatriots and businesses will come to the mainland. "We hope they are not just willing to come to the mainland, but also able to integrate into the local communities and achieve better development."

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China's food security well guaranteed: premier

Beijing - China's food security is well guaranteed on the whole, and China will make sure that the rice bowls of its 1.4 billion people will always be firmly held in their own hands, Premier Li Qiang said Monday.

The annual grain output in China has remained steady at over 650 million tonnes for eight years in a row, Li told a press conference.

He said the country will further increase its grain production capacity by focusing on two key factors -- arable land and seeds.

Encouraging farmers to produce more grains, Li said government policies in support of grain production will only increase, not decrease.

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China, U.S. can, must cooperate: premier

Beijing - China and the United States can and must cooperate, and there are a lot that the two countries can achieve by working together, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said Monday.

Speaking at a press conference held after the conclusion of the annual session of China's national legislature, Li noted that there are some people in the United States who have been trumpeting decoupling with China in recent years.

"But I wonder how many people can truly benefit from this kind of hype," Li said.

Li noted that two-way trade between the two countries had amounted to a record high of nearly 760 billion U.S. dollars last year, citing statistics from the Chinese side.

"China and the United States are closely intertwined economically, and both have benefited from the other side's development," he said.

Citing his own experiences while working in Shanghai, Li said senior managers of multinational corporations he had talked to were all optimistic about the future of Shanghai and China, and they all believed that cooperation is the sure path to win-win outcomes.

"Encirclement and suppression are in no one's interests," said the premier.

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China-U.S. consensus needs to be translated into policies, actions: premier

Beijing - The consensus reached between the top leaders of China and the United States during their meeting last November needs to be translated into actual policies and concrete actions, Premier Li Qiang said on Monday.

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China to further expand opening up: premier

Beijing - China will further expand opening up this year in alignment with high-standard international trade rules, and will open its door wider to the world with better business environment and services, Premier Li Qiang said Monday.

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Chinese premier vows to further improve gov't conduct

Beijing - Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday pledged further efforts to improve the conduct of the government and vowed zero-tolerance for corruption.

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China to promote rural revitalization through deepening reform: premier

Beijing - China will deepen reform of its rural sector to provide drivers for rural revitalization, Premier Li Qiang said Monday.

China is a major agricultural country, and socialist modernization won't be complete without agricultural and rural modernization, Li told a press conference after the conclusion of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Li stressed the need to bring out the initiatives of farmers and let them take part in rural revitalization and share the benefits of reform and development.

He also said rural revitalization should be advanced across the board, and different localities should develop the countryside based on their local conditions.

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