Two Sessions Meeting: The key targets

SHANGHAI, Mar 6 (SMM) — China's national legislature opened its annual session Friday morning in Beijing. Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attended the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing. Premier Li Keqiang delivered a government work report on behalf of the State Council to the legislature for deliberation.

This year's government work report has some differences from previous years, such as GDP targets, tax cuts, and various work arrangements for carbon neutrality and carbon peaking. In response to a number of experts’ opinions and interpretation reports, SMM has put together some changes to the key targets over the past 3 years.

China aims to expand its economy by over 6 percent in 2021, building on strong tailwind from success in containing COVID-19, as lawmakers gather in Beijing to map out priorities for high-quality development.

The gross domestic product (GDP) target is one of the many key goals laid out in a government work report delivered by Premier Li Keqiang to the national legislature, which began its annual session Friday.

"In setting this target, we have taken into account the recovery of economic activity," Li said. "A target of over 6 percent will enable all of us to devote full energy to promoting reform, innovation, and high-quality development."

China aims to create more than 11 million new urban jobs, lower the deficit-to-GDP ratio to 3.2 percent, and expand domestic demand and effective investment, which are expected to put the economy firmly back to pre-pandemic vibrancy -- China's GDP growth rate was 6 percent in 2019.