China boosts spending but no big steps for virus-hit economy

A man watches live coverage of the opening session of the National People's Congress, on a laptop in his store where he sells tobacco and liquor in Beijing on May 22, 2020 .- AFP

BEIJING (AP): China’s top economic official on Friday (May 22) promised higher spending to revive its pandemic-stricken economy and curb surging job losses but steered clear of launching a massive stimulus on the scale of the United States or Japan.

Premier Li Keqiang, in a speech to legislators, said Beijing would set no economic growth target, usually a closely watched feature of government plans, in order to focus on fighting the outbreak.