Stimulus will come if necessary: Premier Li

Beijing

CHINA'S new growth target will not be easy to reach and the government will not hold back from stimulus measures if employment is threatened, Prime Minister Li Keqiang said on Sunday.

This is the first time Mr Li has so openly stated that the government will support the economy which has been slowing over the past four years.

In his opening address to Parliament 10 days ago, Premier Li said China would aim for "around 7 per cent" growth. That would be its slowest growth rate in more than 25 years. On Sunday he said the target would "not be easy" to reach and that the economy "faces considerable downward pressure".

"We need to ensure that China's economy operates within a proper range," he said d…