Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks following consultations by the German-Chinese government on July 9, 2018 in Berlin, Germany.
Sean Gallup | Getty Images News | Getty Images
BEIJING – Chinese Premier Li Keqiang announced on Friday that the second largest economy in the world will aim for a growth of over 6% for 2021.
Li said the country aims for an urban unemployment rate of about 5.5% and aims to create more than 11 million new urban jobs, as in 2019 and up from 9 million last year.
China will also aim for a 3% increase in the consumer price index, a measure of inflation, Li said.
China reported a 2.3% increase last year as the only major economy to expand amid the coronavirus pandemic. The country’s official economic figures are often questionable for their accuracy.
The Chinese government began its annual “Two Sessions” parliamentary meeting this week to approve national priorities for 2021. This year’s meeting will last only 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 meeting on Friday.
The assembly of delegates, known as the “Two Sessions”, oversaw changes such as the abolition of President Xi Jinping’s term limits in 2018 and the proposal for a new security law for Hong Kong last year.
The generally symbolic meeting is gaining special significance this year, as it marks the beginning of China’s five-year development plan – the 14th in the country’s history. It is also the 100th anniversary of the ruling Communist Party.
Authorities are expected to provide details on topics, from employment objectives to the management of the semi-autonomous region of Hong Kong.
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