The third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo)
Premier Li Keqiang delivers the Government Work Report to the third session of the 13th National People's Congress in Beijing on Friday morning. Here are the highlights according to the report submitted to the national legislature for deliberation on Friday:
China firm on achieving development goals of 2020, though setting no specific growth target
China will work to ensure achieving the development goals of winning the battle against poverty and completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects this year, though setting no specific economic growth target for 2020.
China aims to add over 9m new urban jobs in 2020
China will prioritize stabilizing employment and ensuring people's livelihood this year, aiming to create more than 9 million new urban jobs.
China targets CPI increase of around 3.5% in 2020
China has set its consumer inflation target at around 3.5 percent for the year of 2020.
China to ensure eliminating rural poverty in 2020
China will ensure the elimination of poverty among all rural residents living below the current poverty line and in all poor counties this year.
China to reduce corporate burden by over 2.5t yuan in 2020
China aims to reduce corporate burden by more than 2.5 trillion yuan (about $353 billion) throughout the year.
China to keep improving environment for private sector's development
China will continue to foster an enabling environment for the development of the private sector and ensure private businesses have equal access to production factors and policy support.
The country will review relevant regulations to abolish those that unfairly differentiate enterprises according to ownership forms.
Deadlines will be set for government bodies to make overdue payments owed to private and small and medium-sized businesses.
China's prudent monetary policy to be more flexible, appropriate
China will pursue a prudent monetary policy in a more flexible and appropriate way.
China not to ease regular COVID-19 prevention, control
China will spare no efforts in its regular prevention and control of COVID-19, nor will it lose any time in advancing its economic and social development agenda.
China to enhance financial support for stable business operations
China will increase financial support to keep business operations stable.
Large commercial banks should increase inclusive finance lending to micro and small businesses by more than 40 percent, said the report.
Governments at all levels in China should tighten their belts
Governments at all levels should tighten their belts while the central government should take the lead by committing to negative growth in its budgetary spending.
China's deficit-to-GDP ratio target at over 3.6% in 2020
China's deficit-to-GDP ratio this year is projected at more than 3.6 percent.
The ratio was 0.8 percentage points higher than that of last year.
The deficit increase is projected at 1 trillion yuan (about $141.6 billion) over last year, said the report.
China to issue 1-trillion-yuan government bonds for COVID-19 control
China plans to issue 1 trillion yuan (about $141 billion) of government bonds for COVID-19 control.
China keenly aware of challenges, problems
China is keenly aware of the difficulties and problems it faces while recognizing the achievements.
China's negative Q1 growth "a price worth paying" as life is invaluable
China's economy posted negative growth in the first quarter of this year, but it was "a price worth paying" to contain COVID-19 as life is invaluable.
China pledges efforts to minimize losses from COVID-19
China will redouble its efforts to minimize the losses resulting from COVID-19 and fulfill the targets and tasks for economic and social development this year.