An analysis of China’s state media shows that since at least 2014 President Xi Jinping has repeatedly stressed that GDP is not the country’s “ultimate goal”, describing it as important, but not the sole measure of progress.

Over the years he has emphasised a range of other indicators, including green development, common prosperity and carbon reduction.

According to Zhao Xijun, deputy dean of the school of finance at Renmin University of China, Beijing’s pivot to development goals beyond GDP was made in a stabilised economic environment, but times had changed since Covid-19.

“The slowing of economic growth means unemployment, reduced incomes, lower consumption, possible market depression,” he said. “It will lead to a series of issues, other than economic ones [and] greatly affect social and economic stability.”

Stability is a key concern in this very sensitive political year, with the Communist Party’s national congress expected to take place in the autumn.

Officials around the country have repeatedly pledged to create a “favourable social environment” for the meeting, when Xi is expected to stay on for a third term – the first party leader to do so since Mao Zedong’s death in 1976.

“As the economy slows down, some deep-rooted problems will emerge,” he said. “Once economic and financial risks are not properly handled, it’s extremely easy for them to spill over to social and political areas.”

Premier Li’s speech signals ‘clear urgency’ on stabilising China’s economy

In his video conference, Li urged all local authorities to roll out “as many as possible” practical measures of a 33-point stimulus plan outlined by Beijing on Monday to safeguard 150 million market entities, regarded as the bedrock of the economy and employment.

He also called on both the central and local governments to use all available funds to secure jobs and help those who are struggling most.

Mercator Institute for China Studies chief economist Max Zenglein said the 5.5 per cent GDP growth target was aimed at tackling a looming rise in unemployment, with 10.76 million university graduates set to enter a sluggish labour market – a jump of 1.6 million on last year.

“It’s the biggest jump in years and that creates pressure. Then you have this politically sensitive year where it would look challenging for the party if you have a weak, softening labour market. This is really the core driver at the moment for the growth target,” he said.

Beijing to do ‘whatever possible’ to boost China’s employment as strain shows

Han Wenxiu, an official at the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission, told a briefing earlier this month that the party expected downward pressure on the economy and urged local officials to both prevent the pandemic and stabilise the economy.

Economist Tianchen Xu, with the Economist Intelligence Unit, said economic growth would not be China’s single objective, with the hard constraints of zero-Covid unlikely to be overridden, given Xi’s tight grip on power.

“That adherence to zero-Covid will weaken the effects of any new support measures introduced by the government this year,” he said.