Chinese PM expresses confidence in achieving growth goals

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said here Friday that the conditions are right and China has the ability to realize the major economic and social development goals for this year. The country can also achieve healthy and sustainable growth in the long-term by improving the quality and efficiency of growth, Li said while meeting with overseas personages attending the 3rd Global Think Tank Summit in Beijing. Several dozen people from Asia, Africa, Europe and North America attended the meeting, including former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Pascal Lamy, director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Li exchanged views with them on international relations, the global economy and regional integration. In response to their questions, Li said the multi-polarization of the world requires the joint efforts of all regions around the globe. Li said that since the beginning of this year, China has maintained a generally stable economic situation despite grim and complicated external and internal conditions. He said China's economic growth is in a rational place, as inflation and employment have remained steady. The Chinese government has always adopted a balanced approach toward realizing the policy goals of maintaining stable growth, controlling inflation, preventing risks and promoting reform, restructuring the economy and improving people's living standards, he said. He said that while maintaining a stable policy, China is persistently deepening reform and opening up, actively upgrading the economy and shifting the functions of the government. He said this is aimed at combining the benefits of reform, the potential of domestic demand and the energy of innovation in order to increase the economy's internal vigor and risk-proof capabilities. Li expressed the hope that the international think tank summit would extensively explore major global issues and offer advice on practical cooperation so as to play a constructive role in enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation between China and the rest of the world. The attendants expressed their readiness to deeply study and put forward advice on both imminent and long-term issues to contribute to world peace, justice and progress.