Chinese leader urges country to strive for economic target

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-28 21:39

WUXI - China's top political advisor has urged the country to press forward the government's stimulus plans and spare no efforts to achieve the 2009 economic and social development targets.

All sides in China should combine their strength to boost growth, guarantee people's well being and maintain social stability amid the downturn, said Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), during a research tour to Wuxi city of eastern China's Jiangsu Province over the weekend.

China aims at an annual economic growth of about 8 percent this year after the global financial crisis slowed the 2008 growth to a seven-year low of 9 percent.

Jia reaffirmed that the fundamentals of China's economy and its long-term upward direction has not changed, though 2009 will be "the most difficult year" for the country's economy since the beginning of the 21st century.

He told local authorities and entrepreneurs to vigorously develop advanced manufacturing, modern service sector and high-tech industries.

Measures should be taken to speed up industrial upgrading, explore international markets and introduce more overseas high-level talents, said Jia.

He underscored the urgency of creating more jobs and improving social welfare. He also called for more government investment to rural areas to support agriculture and raise farmers' income.