Chinese Premier Li Keqiang outlined major social and economic objectives for the 14th Five-Year Plan (FYP) period, when delivering a report on the government's work during the fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday.

The country has drawn up the draft Outline for the 14th FYP (2021-2025) for Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives through the Year 2035. The country will keep major economic indicators within an appropriate range, set annual targets for economic growth in light of actual conditions, ensure that overall labor productivity grows faster than GDP, keep the surveyed urban unemployment rate within 5.5 percent, and keep prices generally stable, Li said.

China will stick to the innovation-driven development strategy and accelerate the building of a modern industrial system. The country will uphold the core position of innovation in the country's modernization drive, and commit to independent innovation in science and technology as strategic support to national development, Li said.

The country will promote rural revitalization and improve the new urbanization strategy, aiming to raise its urbanization rate to 65 percent during the 2021-2025 period, Li said.

The country will promote green development to significantly lower the energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) and its carbon dioxide emissions by 13.5 percent and 18 percent, respectively, during the period.

Li also said China accomplished the major goals and tasks of the 13th FYP, and made a giant stride toward the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The country's GDP increased from less than 70 trillion yuan ($10.8 trillion) to over 100 trillion yuan. Its entire rural poor population, 55.75 million in number, was lifted out of extreme poverty. Over 60 million urban jobs were added, and the world's largest social security system was established.

(Cover: Workers at a factory in Haian, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 1, 2021. /CFP)