200,000 NEW JOBS PLEDGED FOR CAPITAL

Beijing authorities have vowed to create new 200,000 jobs this year and boost economic growth. At the city's 12th municipal people's congress, which opened on Monday, mayor Liu Qi said the city government would allocate funds for job creation, including setting up training courses, providing information to job seekers and employers and granting small loans to new businesses. The job-creation plan gives special attention to the needs of women over 40 and men over 50. Mr Liu also vowed to keep the rate of growth at an average of 9 per cent over the coming five years. Last year, gross domestic product in Beijing grew by 10.2 per cent.