Premier on economic policies

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang says macroeconomic policies should be more scientific, forward-looking and targeted, to promote healthy growth in the long run.

PKG

Li made the comments on Tuesday at a conference on the country's current economic situation.

China's economic growth slowed to 7.5 percent in the second quarter from 7.7 percent in the first.

Experts and business leaders at the conference believed China's economy is generally stable, though difficulties and risks remain.

The premier said it's inevitable to see economic fluctuations.

And a major task of macroeconomic control is to avoid sharp fluctuations and keep economic growth within a reasonable range.

China aims to keep economic growth at around 7.5 percent this year and hold inflation at around 3.5 percent.

The economy expanded 7.6 percent in the first half of the year, down from a full-year growth of 7.8 percent in 2012.

China's consumer price index, a main gauge of inflation, grew to 2.7 percent year on year in June, up from 2.1 percent in May.

Li said the country's economy has come to a new phase when it must rely more on economic transformation and upgrading.

The government should stabilize economic growth, promote restructuring and advance reforms.

It should also establish a scientific macro policy framework to ensure stable market expectations and sound development environment.

Li stressed the policies should be more scientific, forward-looking and targeted.

The government should combine policy tools and market mechanism, and follow innovation-driven growth.

The country should also advance the transformation of economic development mode, to promote continuous and healthy growth in the long haul.