China’s new GDP target necessary, attainable: senior official

2017-03-06
Xinhua

Director of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) He Lifeng answers questions during a press conference on China’s economic and social development and macro-economic control for the fifth session of the 12th National People’s Congress in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2017.[Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING — Head of China’s top economic planning body said on March 6 that the economic growth target of around 6.5 percent set for 2017 is both necessary and attainable.

The target is necessary as job creation is an important task for China, He Lifeng, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, said at a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing national legislature annual session.

“According to our experience, each 1 percentage point of GDP growth will help create about 1.7 million jobs,” he said.

Without quality growth at a reasonable level, the country will find it hard to meet the job creation target of over 11 million, unveiled in a government work report delivered by Premier Li Keqiang on March 5, He said.

China also needs to realize medium-high growth as it aims to build a “moderately prosperous society in all respects” by 2020 and faces tasks to improve people’s livelihood, he added.

He also expressed his confidence in meeting the GDP target, citing healthy growth last year and deepening reform that improves economic environment.

Director of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) He Lifeng, vice directors of the NDRC Zhang Yong and Ning Jizhe, take questions on China’s economic and social development and macro-economic control during a press conference for the fifth session of the 12th National People’s Congress in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2017.[Photo/Xinhua]