After the closing of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress on the morning of March 11, Premier Li Keqiang attended a press conference in the Golden Hall on the third floor of the Great Hall of the People and answered questions from Chinese and foreign reporters.

　　AP: My question is about the multiple challenges facing the Chinese economy.

China's economy is now gradually transitioning from high growth to sustainable, fair and green growth, and we saw last year that the Chinese government took a series of measures to reduce debt levels and regulate high-tech companies.

This year, the Chinese government has set what many economists consider an ambitious 5.5% growth target, a target set in the face of the continued spread of the new crown pneumonia epidemic and the conflict in Ukraine.

What I want to ask is, does the Chinese government mean that it will put more emphasis on growth this year?

What about putting growth ahead of structural reforms and reducing carbon emissions?

How will the Chinese government balance these different development goals?

In addition, regarding the Ukraine issue, where is the important economic and trade relationship between China and Europe in China's response to this crisis?

Is China worried that this kind of relationship with Russia will affect its good relationship with Europe, or even China's own economic development, because of the current handling of the crisis?

　　Li Keqiang: You mentioned China's economic growth rate. Last year, our total economic volume reached over 110 trillion yuan. Continued growth can be said to be growing on a high base.

From a global perspective, it is a big problem in itself for such a large economy to maintain medium-to-high growth.

You mentioned just now that our target for economic growth of around 5.5% this year is an ambitious target.

I still remember that at this press conference last year, a reporter asked me, saying that you set a goal of more than 6%. Is the goal of 6% too low?

It is not that we did not feel that because of the low base last year, it is entirely possible to achieve a growth rate of 8% or even higher last year, but we are still determined to increase by more than 6%. "Above" is an opening and is happy to see it.

However, the benchmark of our macroeconomic policy is determined at 6%, which means that fiscal, monetary, employment and other policies must be carried out around this benchmark. This also reserves policy space for addressing new challenges this year.

　　Li Keqiang: Looking back on 2020, under such a severe situation, we did not engage in "flooding" over issuance of currency. Last year and even in February this year, when inflation remained high in many countries in the world, our consumer prices also increased. That is, the CPI rose less than 1%, which has to do with the reasonable macro policies we implemented.

　　Li Keqiang: Of course, as I said just now, we formulate macro policies based on China's actual conditions, and have no intention of evaluating other countries.

　　Li Keqiang: Last year, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and through the joint efforts of the people across the country, we not only accomplished the main goals and tasks of economic and social development for the year, but also laid a solid foundation for this year.

This year, the economy has indeed encountered new downward pressures and challenges, not to mention that various complex environments are changing and uncertainties are increasing, that is, we ourselves have to achieve the 5.5% target, and its increment, that is, China's trillion-dollar amount An increase of 5.5% of GDP above the national level is equivalent to the economic aggregate of a medium-sized country.

Ten years ago, our total economic volume was still more than 50 trillion yuan, an increase of 10%, and an increment of 600000000000007000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000SqRn, and this year we have to have 9000000000000 nominal GDP increment.

It’s like climbing a mountain. If you want to climb a 1000-meter mountain and you want to climb 10%, then 100 meters is fine. If you want to climb a 3,000-meter mountain and want to climb 5%, that’s 150 meters.

And the conditions have also changed. The higher the altitude, the lower the air pressure and the less oxygen. It seems that the speed has slowed down, but in fact the weight is heavier.

　　Li Keqiang: Achieving a growth rate of around 5.5% is stable at a high level. In essence, it is progress. It is not easy. It must be supported by corresponding macro policies.

Take fiscal policy, for example, this year we have lowered the deficit rate to 2.8%, and the deficit is more than 200 billion yuan less than last year.

But at the same time, we have stepped up fiscal spending.

Then you will ask, where does the money come from?

As I have already said in the government work report, we can use the unused and outstanding profits of specific central financial institutions and specialized institutions in the past two years, together with the fiscal budget stabilization fund, and the scale of new expenditures will not be less than 2 trillion yuan, and The increased scale is mainly used to reduce taxes and fees, especially tax rebates, which is equivalent to giving oxygen to people who climb mountains.

Of course, we also have a number of supporting measures such as finance and employment.

　　Li Keqiang: If we say that the measures we have taken this year are not only short-term, but also based on the current and long-term perspective, and never prepay for the future, it is sustainable.

Because as mentioned by our reporter friends, China still has many problems to deal with, such as climate change, income disparity, debt, etc. All of which need to be dealt with vigorously in the medium and long-term process, including this year.

We are all planning and deploying relevant measures. China's modernization is still a long-term process, and we need to use development methods to solve problems in development during this process.

　　Li Keqiang: You just mentioned the situation in Ukraine.

The current situation in Ukraine has attracted worldwide attention, and China is deeply concerned and deplored.

It is sincerely hoped that the situation in Ukraine can be eased and peace can be returned at an early date.

China has always pursued an independent foreign policy of peace, and the development of bilateral relations has never targeted a third party.

We will develop cooperative relations with all parties in the spirit of mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win results to provide more stability to the world.

thanks.

　　(Organized according to web text live broadcast)