Despite unprecedented challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, China has vowed to finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and win the battle against poverty in 2020, the country's long-anticipated milestones.
China has both the resolve and the ability to accomplish the targets and tasks set for this year, according to a government work report delivered on Friday at the opening of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), the national legislature.
INSPIRE A NATION
"At present and for some time to come, China will face challenges like never before," Premier Li Keqiang said while delivering the report to the opening meeting, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
"However, we have unique political and institutional strengths, a strong economic foundation, enormous market potential and hundreds of millions of intelligent and hardworking people," Li said.
"If we face challenges head-on, boost confidence in development, create strong impetus for growth, and preserve and make the most of this important period of strategic opportunity for our development, we will, without doubt, be able to make it through this challenging time," Li said. "The horizons for China's development are full of promise."
China had accomplished main targets and tasks for 2019 against external and domestic challenges, laying a crucial foundation for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, according to the report.
Priority for this year will be given to stabilizing employment and ensuring living standards, with the report unveiling detailed targets, policies and measures.
China aims to add over 9 million new urban jobs in 2020 and keep the surveyed urban unemployment rate at around 6 percent. The country will ensure the elimination of poverty among all rural residents living below the current poverty line and in all poor counties.
The report's resolution to deliver on the development milestones has encouraged people across sectors, as national lawmakers saw the detailed targets as practical guidance.
"We have the confidence to lift our county out of poverty despite obstacles," said Adili Abdurazaq, a national lawmaker from northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, who runs a rose planting and processing company in south Xinjiang's Yutian County, one of the country's poorest counties.
The practical plans mentioned in the report, especially measures to ensure employment and the people's well-being, felt very inspiring, he said.
