China's parliament convenes; reform cited as 'powerful impetus'

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, in his first government work report, pledged Wednesday to make breakthroughs in reform as the country seeks growth impetus in face of downward pressure on its economy.  [Special coverage]

Li's report, delivered at the opening meeting of the national legislature's annual session, set this year's economic growth target at 7.5 percent, the same as last year's target and slightly lower than the 7.7-percent actual growth in 2013.

Other key economic goals, such as consumer price index (CPI) and unemployment rate, remain generally the same as those of last year.

Li said the reform will focus on the most wanted areas, the most pressing problems and the sections having the biggest consensus.

"We must rely fully on the people, break mental shackles and vested interests with great determination," he told nearly 3,000 deputies to the Second Session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) in the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.

Li described the situation China faces this year as "a complex environment" with both favorable and unfavorable factors.

Internationally, in addition to the unstable and uncertain global economic recovery, some countries' policy adjustments introduce new variables into the equation and emerging economies are facing new difficulties and challenges, he said.

Domestically, deep-seated problems are surfacing while painful adjustments need to be made, he said.

"The pace of economic growth is changing and downward pressure on the economy remains great," he said.

However, the premier held that China is able to maintain a moderate and even high economic growth for some time to come as industrialization and urbanization are continuing and there is considerable potential for regional development.