China pledges reforms for sustainable growth

Boosting progress: A man controls a drone spraying pesticide on a farm in Bozhou, in central China’s Anhui province. The draft blueprint setting the country’s development strategy for the period up to 2035 prioritises scientific and technological innovation. ─ AFP

BEIJING: China has set a sound growth target for 2021, leaving room for policymakers to carry out arduous reforms to tackle bottlenecks constraining sustainable development.

“A target of over 6% (of economic growth) will enable all of us to devote full energy to promoting reform, innovation, and high-quality development, ” premier Li Keqiang said in the government work report delivered to the national legislature, which began its annual session Friday.