China achieved major strategic success in response to COVID-19 in 2020, being the world's only major economy to grow, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said in a government report issued Friday morning.

Meeting market needs and keeping economy stable

Reviewing a year which saw China battle against COVID-19, Li said the government formulated and implemented macro policies to meet the urgent needs of market entities and kept the fundamentals of the economy stable.

China carried out the task of maintaining security in six key areas – particularly job security, basic living needs and the operations of market entities, according to the government report.

While refraining from adopting a deluge of strong stimulus policies, China took swift, decisive and well-considered steps, maintaining a desired balance in policies, Li added, and worked to support local businesses and residents.

Safeguarding people's well-being a top priority

China gave top priority to stabilizing employment and ensuring living standards in 2020, Li said, and effectively safeguarded people's well-being.

"Employment is pivotal to people's well-being," said the premier, adding that extensive work was done to ensure stable employment.

"Local governments across the country provided more incentives to stabilize and expand employment," multiple channels were tapped to ensure employment for key groups, and startups and innovation were encouraged, he said.

"A total of 11.86 million urban jobs were added, and the year-end surveyed urban unemployment rate dropped to 5.2 percent," he added.

The country also made decisive progress in the battle against poverty in 2020, Li highlighted, saying: "All remaining poor rural residents, totaling 5.51 million in early 2020, were lifted from poverty, as were all of China's remaining 52 poor counties."

Advancing reform and opening-up

China furthered its reform to streamline administration and delegate power, improve regulations and upgrade services, Li said.

The measures taken include implementing the Regulations on Improving the Business Environment, adopting a three-year action plan for state-owned-enterprise reform and supporting private business development.

Steady progress has been achieved in many projects and events, including the Belt and Road Initiative, Hainan Free Trade Port, China International Import Expo and the China International Fair for Trade and Services.

As for opening-up and cooperation, China played an important role in the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and concluded negotiations on an investment agreement with the European Union.

Vigorously promoting innovation in sci-tech

China made a stream of scientific and technological breakthroughs in 2020, including the Tianwen-1 Mars mission, said the Chinese premier.

The country embraced breakthroughs, which also included the Chang'e-5 lunar mission and the Fendouzhe (Striver) deep-sea manned submersible, Li noted.

It also developed international centers for scientific and technological innovation and comprehensive national science centers, and set up its first group of national labs, he said.

Efforts were intensified to make breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields and the government supported the application of sci-tech advances and encouraged collaborative innovation among small, medium, and large enterprises, Li added.