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Premier Li Keqiang took questions from Chinese and foreign reporters
via video link at a news conference Thursday after the closing of the
fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress. Let's take a look
at what overseas media covered. On employment While officials didn't set a GDP growth target last year, they did
set a goal of at least 9 million new urban jobs because "employment is
the foundation of people's wellbeing and development, it is also a
source of wealth", Li said. "With employment, there will be a source of income, it will boost consumption and drive economic growth," he said. The government has set a target of 11 million new urban jobs for 2021
and will prioritize employment creation, Li said, adding that there
will be 14 million people entering the urban job market this year,
including more than 9 million college graduates. - Bloomberg On novel coronavirus source tracing China, too, wants to know where the COVID-19 virus came from, Li said. He said knowing the origins of the coronavirus would help to effectively contain it. Li, however, noted that tracing the virus' origin is a complex
process, and needed continuous research and close cooperation among
countries. "China has acted in an open, transparent and cooperative manner," he said. - Malaysia's news website The Star Online On macro economy Li defended the government's target for more than 6 percent GDP
growth this year, saying it is "not low" and policies would not be
dramatically loosened to chase higher growth. The target was well below analysts' expectations, as their consensus forecast was for growth of more than 8 percent this year. Li said the focus this year is on consolidating China's economic
recovery, and setting hugely different growth targets from year to year
would only "disturb" market expectations. - Reuters On science-tech innovation Li said China will continue to scale up inputs in driving scientific
and technological innovations for the next five years, and more efforts
will be made to encourage the private sector's participation in research
and development. - Press Trust of India On China-US relations China and the United States have common interests and many areas for
cooperation and should strive for a healthy development in relations, Li
said. Li said Beijing hoped ties could develop in a healthy way based on
respecting each other's core interests, win-win cooperation and
non-interference in internal affairs. US President Joe Biden's administration has committed to reviewing elements of US policy toward China. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with top Chinese
officials on March 18 in Alaska, the first high-level in-person contact
between the two countries under the Biden administration. - Reuters "We hope to see dialogue between the two countries in multiple areas,
and at various levels. Even if we cannot work everything out anytime
soon, such exchange of views will help boost trust and dispel
misgivings," Li said. "China and the US have common interests. There are many areas where
the two countries can cooperate with each other... The two countries
need to put more energy and focus on their common ground and expand
converging interests," he said. - The Straits Times
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