CRI听力:Premier Li Stresses Confidence Amid Tough Challenges

The target for GDP growth has been set at 7%. The premier revealed the number as he delivered the Government Work Report at the annual session of the National People's Congress in Beijing.

This is lower than last year's target and the 7.4-percent actual growth in 2014.

Other economic indices such as the consumer price index, set at 3 percent, and unemployment rate at 4.5 percent, are also slightly lower than last year.

Li Keqiang says the difficulties ahead are related to the ongoing downward pressure on the economy and deep-seated problems related to development that have begun to emerge.

"Growth in investment is sluggish; the number of new areas of strong consumer activity is limited; there is no sign the international market is about to significantly pick up; maintaining stable growth is becoming more difficult, and there are still latent risks in some areas."

He also expressed dissatisfaction over the implementation of some policies and denounced laziness and corruption among a small number of civil servants.

However, Li says he is "fully confident" as China's development has enormous potential.

"on the other hand, China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity during which great progress can be made in development. Our country's development has enormous potential and is hugely resilient. We have ample room for growth."

The work report highlights twin engines to promote growth, referring to popular entrepreneurship and innovation, coupled with increased supply of public goods and services.

Increasing employment is also noted in the work report as the number of college graduates will reach nearly 7.5 million this year.

Li stresses the increasing importance of the private sector to China's developing economy.

"We will remain firmly committed to encouraging, supporting, and guiding the development of this sector, work to enable entrepreneurs to give full expression to their talent, put into effect all policies and measures encouraging the development of the private sector, strengthen the vitality of enterprises under all types of ownership and protect the property rights of all types of enterprise-legal persons in accordance with the law."

According to the report, the number of investment projects requiring government review will be substantially reduced.

Li adds China will also greatly relax market access for private investment and encourage the use of private capital to set up equity funds.

The Premier has also highlighted the fight against pollution.

"Environmental pollution is a blight on people's quality of life and a trouble that weighs on their hearts. We must fight it with all out might."

This year, cutting energy intensity is listed as one of the major development goals in the annual government work report.

For CRI I'm Guo Yan.