Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met reporters from home and abroad at a news conference on March 15  after the conclusion of the second session of the 13th National People's Congress. Here are highlights of the event.

China will not let economic indicators slide out of proper ranges

China's adoption of a GDP target range this year is consistent with the government's determination of not allowing major economic indicators to slide out of proper ranges, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Friday after the closing of the annual legislative session.

China determined to implement larger tax, fee cuts

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Friday that the country is determined to implement larger scale tax and fee cuts this year as a key countermeasure against downward economic pressure.

China calls for continued DPRK-US dialogue

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday called for continued dialogue, especially between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States, to eventually resolve the Korean peninsula issue.

Good outcomes hoped for China-US trade consultations

Good outcomes are hoped to be delivered out of the economic and trade consultations between China and the United States, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday.

Chinese government did not and will not ask companies to engage in spying

The Chinese government did not and will not ask Chinese companies to spy on other countries, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Friday.

Such kind of action is not consistent with the Chinese law and is not how China behaves, Li said at a press conference after the conclusion of the annual session of China's national legislature.

Mainland willing to issue more preferential policies for Taiwan compatriots

Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday the Chinese mainland intends to introduce more preferential policies for Taiwan compatriots.

It is to ensure that they will enjoy the same treatment as the mainland people when they work, study, live and do business on the mainland, Li told a press conference following the conclusion of the annual national legislative session.

China to strengthen intellectual property protection

China will enhance the protection of intellectual property, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Friday.

Li proposed to make revisions to relevant laws on intellectual property protection and introduce a punitive compensation mechanism, to ensure that all infringements are dealt with once they are found, and such actions have no where to hide.

China to further cut financing cost for small, micro firms

China will further cut the financing cost for small and micro firms by another one percentage point this year, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Friday.

Serving the real economy is the bounden duty of the financial sector, Li said at a press conference after the conclusion of the annual session of China's national legislature.

Premier Li urges China, Russia to double trade

Premier Li Keqiang on Friday called on China and Russia to exhaust all means possible to double their trade value.

Bilateral trade exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars last year despite sagging global trade growth, Li told a press conference after the conclusion of China's annual legislative session, calling on both sides to consolidate the achievement.

China to ensure creation of over 11 million new urban jobs in 2019

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Friday the country will ensure the creation of more than 11 million new urban jobs this year.

Li said the country will work to ensure employment of college graduates, whose number will reach a new high of 8.34 million this year. It will prevent zero-employment families and provide more policy support to companies that hire more people.

The country will encourage business start-ups and innovation to create more job opportunities, he said.

Li also underlined the employment of rural migrant workers, whose population reaches more than 280 million and is still increasing.

China to prepare rules in line with foreign investment law

China will introduce a series of regulations and documents in accordance with the foreign investment law to protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors, Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday.

This is an important thing China is to do in the next step to ensure that the law is implemented smoothly, Li said at a press conference after the conclusion of the annual session of China's national legislature.

China hopes for stable neighborhood

China hopes to have a stable neighborhood, valuing its ties with northeast Asia, southeast Asia and all neighbors, Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday.

The country will continue to follow the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in developing relations with its neighbors, Li said at a press conference after the conclusion of the annual session of the national legislature.

China will continue to play its constructive role in promoting the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, he said.

The Premier also called for the development of an FTA among China, Japan and the ROK. "Arriving at a comprehensive, high-standard and mutually beneficial agreement is in the interests of the three countries."

"China will stay on the path of peaceful development and continue to be a positive force and contributor for regional and global peace," he said.

China to take various measures to boost domestic consumption

The Chinese government will take measures to further boost domestic consumption and unleash market potential, Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday.

"There are still obstacles that constrain growth of domestic consumption. If we can resolve these problems, it will help boost consumption and improve the livelihoods of the people," Li said at a press conference following the conclusion of the annual national legislative session.

Chinese premier to visit Europe in April

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday said he is going to visit the European Union (EU) headquarters in April and hold the next round of the China-EU leaders' meeting.

Li expressed the hope for China and the EU to view their relations from a strategic and long-term perspective and continue to show mutual respect, deepen mutual understanding and advance cooperation in joint pursuit of sustained and healthy growth of the ties.

China to ease burden of patients with chronic, serious diseases

China will further ease burden of patients with chronic or serious diseases this year, Premier Li Keqiang said Friday.

Outpatient medicines for treating chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes will be made reimbursable under the medical insurance scheme, with the reimbursement rate set at 50 percent. The move will benefit some 400 million patients, Li said at a press conference after the conclusion of the annual legislative session.

Meanwhile, China plans to lower the deductible threshold and raise the reimbursement rate for serious illnesses, he added.

China to exercise accommodative, prudential regulations on new business models

China will continue to exercise accommodative and prudential regulations on new business models such as Internet Plus and sharing economy, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Friday.

New business models should be allowed a good chance to grow and develop, and the government needs to detect and address any problems that come along the way, he said at a press conference after the conclusion of the annual legislative session.

By prudential regulation, the government needs to draw a clear bottom line involving public safety and security, Li added.

China to provide better care for the elderly, children

China will provide better care for senior citizens and children, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Friday.

Issues related to the aged and child care concern the Chinese people most. "They demand more attention from us," Li said at a press conference following the conclusion of the annual national legislative session.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)