BEIJING, March 14 (UPI) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Monday the government would not ease its macroeconomic controls, saying its policies ensure stable and rapid growth.
Wen made the remark during a press conference at the end of the 10-day full session of the National People's Congress, China's legislature.
The premier enumerated three main areas where government control was needed.
"First our work on the economic foundations needs to be consolidated further," Wen said.
China will continue to push grain production and improve economic conditions for its 900 million rural residents. It will continue a slowdown in capital goods and fixed asset investments as well as address problems in energy and transportation.
"Second, there are still dilemmas in the economy," the premier noted. Wen said slow growth would impede job creation while growing too fast would lead to an overheated economy.
China plans to create nine million new jobs in 2005.
The third area Wen mentioned was structural efforts. "Our top priority is macro-regulations creating a stable, rapid growth rate."
The premier said officials "must pay attention to expansion and contractive measures as well as administrative and economic means to achieve macro-regulatory objectives."
