CRI听力:Premier Li Meets the Press after NPC Closed

Premier Li Keqiang expresses confidence of achieving the target, but stresses that the government is not preoccupied with GDP growth

"The reason why China set the growth target at 7.5% is because of the need to create new jobs, bringing real benefits to the people. We also want to raise urban and rural residents' incomes. We are attaching the importance of people's livelihoods and employment to the growth target."

The premier also responds to renewed concerns on the growth outlook of the world's second largest economy.

"We gained good experience in handling economic development last year and the Chinese economy has tremendous potential and resilience. So I believe that we have the ability and the conditions to keep economic operation within a proper range this year."

The premier notes a spate of complex challenges ahead, including enhancing the quality and efficiency of economic development, tackling pollution and saving energy.

In the premier's government work report delivered to the NPC session last week, the government has vowed to keep inflation at around 3.5 percent.

It also set a target to create 10 million more urban jobs to ensure the registered urban unemployment rate does not rise above 4.6 percent.

To achieve these goals, Li Keqiang says fiscal, tax and financial reforms will be priority on the country's overall reform agenda in 2014.

He says the authorities will continue to streamline administration and delegate power to ensure that the market fully play its role in an effective and well-regulated manner

"We will still continue biting 'hard bones' in order to better handle the relationship between the government and the market. A market economy is one based on the rule of law. We need to ensure that market energies can do anything not prohibited by law, and government departments must not do anything unless it is mandated by the law."

On top of the internal affairs, Premier Li Keqiang has elaborated on China's foreign policy in 2014, including the Sino-U.S. relationship.

"There is much more that we can do to further unleash the potential of Sino-U.S. cooperation. We need to make the most of our common ground. Wise people will seek common interests, while the unwise will focus on their differences. Whatever change may take place, it should be conducive to both countries and the sound and steady development of Sino-U.S. ties. China and the U.S. need to focus more on common ground in pursuit of long-term benefits."

During the press conference, Premier Li has also responded to multiple issues, including curbing housing prices, tackling smog and fighting against corruption.

For CRI, this is Xie Zhao.