Chinese Premier Li Keqiang hosts a virtual press conference and takes questions from the press after the closing of the third session of the 13th NPC, on May 28, 2020, in Beijing,China. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Thursday the country is expected to achieve positive economic growth this year if security in six key areas is ensured.

The six areas refer to job security, basic living needs, operations of market entities, food and energy security, stable industrial and supply chains, and the normal functioning of primary-level governments.

Li highlighted efforts to maintain security in the first three areas and said that China will take targeted measures instead of massive stimulus to boost economic growth.  

Li was confident that China will be able to fulfill the tasks and goals for the whole year and complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects

"Our measures of a fairly large scale are designed to provide vital relief to market entities and revitalize the market with a particular focus on ensuring steady employment and people's livelihoods," Li said during a press conference after the conclusion of the annual national legislative session.

He said money invested in the people will be able to generate new wealth, help protect and preserve tax sources, and make public finance more sustainable.

Li was confident that China will be able to fulfill the tasks and goals for the whole year and complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects.  

"We will do our utmost to keep China's economic growth stable and at the same time we must ensure that all measures taken are well calibrated," Li said.

The country has policy reserves in fiscal, financial, social security and other fronts, and will promptly introduce new measures without any hesitation if necessary, Li said.

Keeping China's economic fundamentals stable itself will be a contribution to the world and China will remain a positive force driving global economic recovery and growth, he said.

ALSO READ: Chinese premier meets the press

The country reserves policy space on the fiscal, financial, social security and other fronts and is in a strong position to quickly introduce new measures should the situation calls for it without any hesitation, Li said, adding that China is prepared to boost imports and remain a hot land for foreign investment.

"We hope that people will stay optimistic about coming to invest in this big market of China," Li said.

He also said that it is essential to keep China's economic development on a steady course and further enhance cooperation with the rest of the world and introduce more measures to expand opening up. 

SECURING, CREATING MORE JOBS

Addressing the importance of employment, Li said it matters most in people's lives and the government will step up efforts to stabilize employment in 2020. 

He said China will adopt all possible measures to secure existing jobs and primary-level governments will be allowed to use funds to subsidize companies' rents and offer them subsidized loans, as part of efforts to keep businesses and employment stable.

In the meantime, China will make efforts to create more new jobs, Li said.

Noting that new forms of businesses and industries are mushrooming and providing an increasing number of jobs, Li called for more policy support for emerging sectors and measures to scrap unnecessary and unwarranted restrictions that prevent their development.

China had more than 10,000 new enterprises everyday on average last year, and will work hard to keep the figure stay at this level this year, he said.

Li also stressed efforts to provide services for college graduates, rural migrant workers and demobilized military personnel to help them find jobs.

China aims to create over 9 million new urban jobs in 2020, with a surveyed urban unemployment rate of around 6 percent, according to the government's annual work report.

REGIONAL TRADE

To help spur regional economic growth, Li said China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) are working closely together to advance their free trade agreement (FTA) development.

"The three countries are close neighbors, and we would like to establish a mini-pattern for the three markets to boost each other amid the global economic cooperation," Li said.

For example, China and the ROK recently opened a fast-track service for personnel interflow in commerce, technology and other areas, which will facilitate work and production resumption, he added.

Premier Li also expressed his belief that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will be signed as scheduled.

COVID-19

Li said China is open to international cooperation on the research and development of vaccines, medicines and testing reagents for COVID-19, and is willing to share the deliverables with the world

He also stressed the importance of international cooperation in fighting COVID-19 and restoring the economy to ensure victory over the epidemic.

The international community is now facing the dual contradictory challenges of containing the spread of the virus and restoring economy and social order, Li said. 

He said this entails efforts, especially international cooperation, to strike a balance between the two conflicting goals and explore ways forward during the process.

Li said China is open to international cooperation on the research and development of vaccines, medicines and testing reagents for COVID-19, and is willing to share the deliverables with the world.

He also said China will continue to adopt a science-based, open and transparent approach in dealing with COVID-19.

China believes that getting a clear idea about the source of the novel coronavirus is important and will help better contain COVID-19 and contribute to the life and health of people around the world.

China has successfully brought the spread of the virus under control with painstaking efforts, and has taken an active part in international cooperation against COVID-19, Li said.

Noting the ongoing global spread of the virus and the existence of sporadic cases in China, Li emphasized efforts to prevent a resurgence of infections.

Any infection, once detected, must be promptly handled and no cover-up will be allowed in China, the premier said.

Li said China will promote the peaceful reunification of the country and that the Chinese nation has the wisdom and capabilities to handle its own affairs

SINO-US TIES

Talking about the recent tensions between China and the United States, Li said China-US decoupling does no good to either side and will harm the world as the two countries are major economies and their ties are crucial.

It is true that the China-US relations have encountered some new problems and challenges, Li said, but there are many areas where the two countries -- as permanent members of the UN Security Council -- can and should work with each other in tackling both traditional and unconventional challenges.

"There are extensive exchanges between the two countries in the economic, trade, scientific, technological, cultural and other fields," he said. "It is fair to say that there are extensive common interests between China and the United States."

Both countries stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Getting the Sino-US relationship right is in the interest of both peoples and the whole world, the Chinese premier said. "That is why some problems (in the bilateral ties) have led to concerns in the international community."

"We should continue to work together to follow through the consensus reached between the heads of state of the two countries and work jointly to foster a Sino-US relationship based on coordination, cooperation and stability," Li said.

He said China and the United States must use wisdom to expand common interests and properly manage differences and disagreements.

There are differences in the social systems, cultural traditions, and historical backgrounds between the two countries, Li said, so some differences and disagreements may be unavoidable.

"What's important is how we manage them," Premier Li said.

He said the relationship has moved forward amidst twists and turns in the past decades, featuring both growing cooperation and some bumps along the way.

"I believe that the two countries should respect each other and develop a relationship on the basis of equality, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, and embrace cooperation that will be conducive to both countries and to the world," Li said.

TAIWAN

In response to a question regarding Taiwan, Li said China will promote the peaceful reunification of the country and that the Chinese nation has the wisdom and capabilities to handle its own affairs. 

The Taiwan question is China's internal affair and China has always opposed external interference, he said.

"Our major principles and policies on Taiwan are consistent and well known to the world," Li said, stressing upholding the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus while resolutely opposing "Taiwan independence."

"On this political basis, we are ready to have dialogue and consultation with political parties, groups and people in Taiwan on cross-Strait relations and the future of the Chinese nation, so as to promote the peaceful development cross the Strait and advance the peaceful reunification of China," Li said. "We are ready to show maximum sincerity and do our utmost."

READ MORE: NPC adopts decision on national security legislation for HK

Li noted there has been no loss of life to COVID-19 among Taiwan compatriots working and living on the Chinese mainland during the pandemic outbreak earlier this year.