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Li: Stop forecasting hard landing for Chinese economy

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BEIJING: Premier Li Keqiang said yesterday that forecasts of a hard landing for the world's second largest economy should stop, though domestic and external risks remain and meeting the target of 6.5 per cent growth for this year won't be easy.

"Almost every year I have heard a prediction of the Chinese economy having a hard landing," Mr Li said at his annual news conference at the end of the annual meeting of China's parliament.

"But I believe that our economic performance in the past several years... should suffice to put a full stop to such prophesies of a hard landing."

China has cut its economic growth target this year to around 6.5 per cent from its 2016 goal of 6.5 to 7 per cent, while pushing through reforms to tackle rising debt and guard against financial risks.

Said Mr Li: "As for the projected target of GDP growth this year at about 6.5 per cent, I have read some foreign media describing it as a move by the Chinese government for moderate downward adjustment of GDP growth.

"I should point out that 6.5 per cent growth is not low speed and will not be easy for us to meet."

China's gross domestic product grew 6.7 per cent last year, supported by record bank loans, a speculative housing boom and billions in government investment.

Looking ahead, the head of a government research centre said the risk of a steep slide in China's economy has receded, adding that the country had moved through an "L-shaped" pattern of slowing to now "horizontal" growth.

But China continues to pump large amounts of credit into the economy, with bank lending this January the second highest on record and new credit not slowing as much as expected last month.

Premier Li said the economy faces risks this year, but added the country has many policy tools to cope with them.

He said: "We need to take very seriously the risks we are facing on the domestic front, especially in the financial sector...

"We will take prompt and targeted measures to prevent them from further spreading." - REUTERS

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