China lowers growth target slightly, stresses need for stability

Beijing

CHINA has slightly lowered its growth target for this year amid calls for stability as it sees increasing risks rising from both inside and outside its borders.

In his work report delivered to the 3,000 or so delegates gathered in Beijing for the next 10 days, Premier Li Keqiang said the economy would grow "around 6.5 per cent, or higher if possible".

The carefully worded work report rarely surprises as major economic targets and trends are usually leaked ahead of the meeting, but it gives a general sense of where the Communist Party, known for being particularly opaque in its decision making, is heading for the next year.

"The developments both in and outside of China require that we are r…