Advertisement

Chinese premier calls for ‘tangible, effective, accessible’ policies to aid economy

  • Premier Li Qiang held an executive meeting of China’s State Council on Wednesday that discussed the economic work plan for the second half of the year

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
2
The State Council meeting was chaired by Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE
Mia Nulimaimaitiin Hong KongandJi Siqiin Beijing

Premier Li Qiang called on China to explore and introduce incremental policies that are “tangible, effective and accessible to both the public and businesses”, as increasing external headwinds and prolonged weak domestic demand are creating challenges to the annual economic growth target.

Advertisement

Analysts said Beijing was likely to opt for an expanding fiscal policy for the rest of the year to boost consumption, predominantly by making full use of its treasury bonds.

“We must expedite implementation of existing policies, explore and introduce new, incremental measures that are tangible, effective and accessible to both the public and businesses,” the premier told an executive meeting of China’s State Council on Wednesday that discussed the economic work plan for the second half of the year.

China has set an annual gross domestic product growth target again of around 5 per cent, with the world’s second-largest economy having grown by 5 per cent in the first half of the year.

Li also urged greater macro support, stabilisation of market expectations, boosting market confidence and nurturing future industries.

Beijing is seeking to address China’s thorny economic issues following weakening growth momentum in the second quarter, which was largely created due to sluggish domestic demand.

Advertisement
Advertisement