Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang speaks after government talks between Germany and China on July 9, 2018, in Berlin, Germany.
Sean Gallup | Getty Images News | Getty images
BEIJING – Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang announced on Friday that the world’s second-largest economy is targeting growth of more than 6% by 2021.
Li said the nation was aiming for an urban unemployment rate of about 5.5% and focused on creating more than 11 million new urban jobs, the same as in 2019 and up from 9 million last year.
China will also aim for the consumer price index to rise by about 3%, a measure of inflation, Li said.
China reported 2.3% growth last year as the only major economy to grow during the coronavirus pandemic. The country’s official economic figures are often questioned as to their accuracy.
The Chinese government started its annual “Two Sessions” parliamentary meeting this week to approve national priorities for 2021. This year’s meeting will last about a week.
The political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, held its opening ceremony on Thursday. The legislature of the National People’s Congress began its annual rally on Friday.
The meeting of delegates, known as the “Two Sessions”, has overseen changes such as President Xi Jinping’s end of deadlines in 2018 and the proposal for a new Hong Kong security law last year.
The otherwise generally symbolic gathering takes on special significance this year as it marks the beginning of China’s five-year development plan – the fourteenth in the country’s history. It is also the 100th anniversary of the ruling Communist Party.
The authorities are expected to provide details on topics ranging from employment objectives to the management of the semi-autonomous region of Hong Kong.
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