Measures target economic growth

The State Council on Wednesday announced a series of measures to stabilize foreign trade growth following lackluster trade figures in recent months, in the government's latest move to boost economic growth amid the global economic turmoil.

"First, we will speed up tax rebates for exporters and make sure that they get the rebates accurately and promptly," the State Council said in a statement released after an executive meeting presided by Premier Wen Jiabao.

The government will also expand the range of export credit insurance and reduce financing costs, while urging commercial banks to enhance trade financing for small and micro-sized companies, and increase credit to qualified exporters, the statement said.