Two sessions: no hard target but ‘growth still vital’ to China’s economy and goals

Senior economic planning official says a certain level of expansion necessary to protect jobs and eradicate poverty

Decision to abandon specific GDP rate for 2020 not without precedent, NDRC vice-chairman says

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NDRC vice-chairman Ning Jizhe says some level of economic growth is necessary even though China has not set a hard target for 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 4:44pm, 24 May 2020Updated: 11:18pm, 24 May 2020

China will still pursue some economic growth this year, despite not setting a gross domestic product target in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the country’s top economic planner said on Sunday.

Ning Jizhe, vice-chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, said that a certain level of growth was still crucial for the economy and to realise a series of economic and social development goals.

“Whether it’s ensuring livelihoods, protecting jobs or eradicating poverty, these goals all must be supported by economic growth,” Ning said on the sidelines of the National People’s Congress in Beijing on Sunday.

He said China would maintain growth through more reforms and opening the country’s market wider to the world.

Ning also pushed back against suggestions that it was the first time Beijing had not set an annual growth target.

“This is already the fourth time since reform and opening up,” he said, referring to market changes that started in 1978. “The previous three times were 2000, 2001 and 2002.”