China Aims to Achieve Economic Targets Despite Disappointing Data
Chinese Premier Li Qiang reaffirms commitment to achieving economic growth targets for the year, despite recent disappointing data.
China's Premier Li Qiang said Wednesday the country would work to achieve its economic targets for the year, according to an official readout. His remarks came a day after China reported disappointing data for July, prompting some economists to warn of rising downside risks to the country's gross domestic target of around 5% growth. GDP rose by 5.5% in the first half of the year from a year ago.
Li is head of China's State Council, the country's top executive body. He was speaking at a meeting of the council on Wednesday. During the meeting, Li called for expanding domestic demand and boosting consumption. He also said efforts should be made to "organically combine" security with development — in the context of promoting business overall.
Its only mention of employment called for using "multiple channels" to increase jobs. But there was no mention of the property market.
Market worries about spillover from China's massive real estate sector to the rest of the economy have reemerged this month as once-healthy developer Country Garden now hovers on the brink of default.