China’s Premier Li Keqiang orders provincial governments to ‘tell the truth’ about economic conditions
- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has told provincial governments to be honest about local economic conditions
- Local officials must focus on stabilising employment, expanding domestic demand and strengthening supervision, Li said
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has told local government officials they must “tell the truth” about regional economic conditions so they can take the necessary steps to create more jobs, spur consumption and expand “effective investment”.
Li made the remarks in a video meeting with officials from five provinces on Friday, during which they discussed the state of their economies and how best to manage recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, according to a statement posted online by the government.
“Only when you tell the truth, can we come up with practical measures,” Li, who is president Xi Jinping’s top economic adviser, was quoted as saying.
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He also told the officials to focus on stabilising employment, expanding domestic demand and strengthening supervision of projects to ensure “effective investment”.
“Where there is employment and income, there is consumption,” he said. “We must strengthen employment policy to create more jobs.