Premier urges "full stop" to hard-landing predictions on Chinese economy

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets the press at the Great Hall of the People after the conclusion of the annual national legislative session in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2017. [Photo: Xinhua]

Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday called for a "full stop" to hard-landing predictions on the Chinese economy, saying the country is capable of maintaining medium-high growth for a long time to come.

"China's economic performance in the past few years should suffice to put predictions of a hard landing to a full stop," Li said at a press conference following the conclusion of the annual legislative session. 

Instead of resorting to massive stimulus, China has innovated macro-control approaches, upgraded industrial and consuming patterns and fostered new growth sources to keep the economic running in a proper range, Li said.

More importantly, China has created over 50 million urban new jobs in the past four years, Li noted.

For the long run, China's economy will continue to enjoy medium-high growth and be upgraded to higher levels, he added.

Li also admitted the challenges and difficulties in deepening reforms, vowing to further streamline government administration to curb "arbitrary use" of power.