China News Service, March 5 (China News Financial Reporter Zuo Yukun) Can the economic growth target of around 5% be achieved?

Can the "people's livelihood red envelope" be implemented?

How to promote the development of foreign investment and private enterprises?

　　On March 5, the State Council Information Office held a briefing. Huang Shouhong, head of the "Government Work Report" drafting team and director of the State Council Research Office, interpreted the "Government Work Report" and answered reporters' questions.

  Briefing session on site.

There are conditions and supports to achieve a growth rate of 5% this year

　　The "Government Work Report" sets this year's economic growth target at around 5%.

Huang Shouhong said that this was formulated after comprehensive consideration of various factors, including domestic and international situations, including needs and possibilities. It can be said to be based on the current situation and with a long-term perspective.

Specifically, judging from current needs, we need a certain economic growth rate to expand employment, increase residents' income, and prevent and resolve risks.

　　From a long-term or medium-to-long-term perspective, socialist modernization will be basically realized by 2035, and the per capita GDP will reach the level of moderately developed countries. Although there are no clear quantitative requirements here, there are implicit requirements for economic growth. .

According to various estimates, the goal of socialist modernization must be basically achieved from now to 2035, and the economic growth rate must be maintained at around 5%.

　　Regarding whether the proposed growth target can be achieved, Huang Shouhong believes that there are conditions and support to achieve a growth rate of 5% this year.

The first is to support China's economic development, including last year's 5.2% growth rate. The basic motivations behind this have not changed, and are significantly strengthening in many aspects; second, the positive factors for economic development have increased since this year, and the factors that restricted economic development last year have Some unfavorable factors are tending to weaken; third, the policy effects of some major policy measures taken since last year are continuing to appear this year.

Will the financial constraints at the grassroots level in some places affect the fulfillment of people's livelihood commitments?

　　Huang Shouhong said that improving people's livelihood and well-being is the fundamental purpose of development.

This year's "Government Work Report" focuses on issues of concern to the masses and proposes many policy measures related to people's livelihood.

For example, the overall requirements set out requirements for improving people's livelihood and well-being, and relevant content is covered in other parts.

　　For example, he said that in terms of social security, the "Government Work Report" proposed that this year while continuing to increase the basic pension for retirees, the monthly minimum basic pension for urban and rural residents will be increased by 20 yuan.

There are now more than 170 million elderly people receiving pension insurance benefits for urban and rural residents across the country. This year, the minimum standard will be raised by 20 yuan, an increase of 19.4%, which is the largest increase in recent years.

　　As for the financial constraints of some places, and whether the measures deployed by the government to improve people's livelihood are financially supported, Huang Shouhong said that the "Government Work Report" specifically emphasized the need to vigorously optimize the expenditure structure and strengthen the country's major strategic tasks and basic people's livelihood. Financial security.

This year, the central government must maintain the necessary intensity in transfer payments to local governments, with a budget of more than 10 trillion yuan. At the same time, it must push provincial governments to invest financial resources to ensure that there are no problems with the "three guarantees" at the grassroots level.

Regarding the arrangements for improving people's livelihood this year, I believe that through joint efforts from top to bottom, they will be implemented.

  Data map.

Photo by Chen Bin

Stabilizing employment brings great pressure but also great potential

　　Huang Shouhong said that this year's "Government Work Report" has highlighted the priority orientation of employment and formulated a series of measures.

First of all, the expected urban employment target is set at more than 12 million people. Last year it was "about 12 million people" and this year it is "above". This reflects the intensity, determination and clear vision of the party and the government to do a good job in employment work. Policy Guidance.

　　Secondly, in order to achieve employment goals, especially to ensure the employment of young people and college graduates, the "Government Work Report" proposed a series of policy measures, which can be summarized in three aspects: first, to increase policy support; Support from enterprises and key groups in key industries; third, strengthen vocational skills training.

　　"Overall, there is indeed a lot of pressure to stabilize employment this year, and there is also great potential. These potentials must be fully unleashed. The employment situation this year will definitely be good." Huang Shouhong said.

The deficit ratio has been maintained at a reasonable and moderate level

　　Huang Shouhong said that the fiscal deficit rate is an important indicator that reflects the strength of fiscal policy and the level of fiscal risks. There is a so-called 3% deficit rate warning line internationally.

For China, in recent years, from the perspective of supporting economic development, preventing fiscal risks, and achieving fiscal sustainability, our deficit rate has been maintained at a reasonable and moderate level.

　　This year's deficit rate is set at 3%, which is actually the same as the budget level at the beginning of last year.

Although it has dropped slightly compared with last year after the additional issuance of 1 trillion treasury bonds, overall this level is moderate.

This arrangement is in line with the objective reality that China's overall economic performance is improving and sends a positive signal to the outside world. It is also conducive to controlling the government debt ratio, enhancing fiscal sustainability, and reserving policy space to deal with possible risks and challenges in the future.

Taking these factors into consideration, we have set a deficit rate of 3% this year.

  Data map: Sichuan Luzhou Port Terminal.

Photo by reporter Liu Zhongjun

Short-term fluctuations in the actual amount of foreign capital used are normal

　　From the data point of view, our actual use of foreign capital dropped last year.

The same is true for everything. Short-term fluctuations are normal and are caused by a variety of factors, including many accidental factors and phased factors. The focus is to look at trends and trends.

　　Huang Shouhong mentioned that last year, China’s growth rate in attracting foreign investment dropped by 8% in RMB terms.

But in terms of overall scale, the vertical ratio, historically speaking, we are now the third highest, slightly lower than in 2021 and 2022; horizontally, my country ranks first in the amount of foreign investment attracted by developing countries, and its global proportion remains at Above 10%, it is generally stable.

　　Regarding policy measures to attract foreign investment, the first is to steadily expand institutional opening up; the second is to continue to relax market access for foreign investment. This year's "Government Work Report" proposes to comprehensively cancel restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector; the third is to improve service guarantees for foreign investment. level, including building the "Invest in China" brand and making it more convenient for foreigners to work, study and travel in China.

Private enterprises will definitely create new brilliance

　　Huang Shouhong said that the private economy is an important part of China's economy and an important force in modernization.

The "Government Work Report" proposed the following measures: first, implement and improve various support policies; second, optimize the business environment around the concerns of enterprises; third, support the innovative development of the private economy.

　　The "Government Work Report" points out that it is necessary to promote excellent entrepreneurial spirit, support entrepreneurs to focus on innovative development, and run enterprises well in a down-to-earth manner.

On the one hand, the government must create a good environment and set up a stage for private enterprises; on the other hand, private entrepreneurs must actively forge ahead and overcome difficulties and challenges.

　　Huang Shouhong said that looking back on the past 40 years of reform and opening up, private enterprises have also developed in response to difficulties.

We are indeed facing many difficulties and problems now, but think about it, compared with more than 40 years ago, compared with 10 years ago, compared with five years ago, the conditions and factors for the development of private enterprises are better now.

The market system, legal environment, credit system, etc. are much better now than in the past.

We have created brilliance in the past, and we will definitely create new brilliance and new achievements in the future.

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