Improving livelihood is the focus

The annual Central Economic Work Conference that concluded on Monday reaffirmed the need to maintain economic growth as the country's main goal next year.

To reach the target against the backdrop of the global economic slowdown, the highest-level economic decision-making conference vowed to boost domestic demand, consumer-led demand in particular, and improve people's livelihoods as one of the main means of stimulating economic development.

Amidst the gloomy external economic environment, the Chinese government made economic growth the top priority and launched a raft of economic stimulus packages, which lifted consumer confidence, stabilized market expectations and promoted much-needed growth. They also played a positive role in helping the country press ahead with proactive fiscal and moderately loose monetary polices.