Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Lays out Country’s Goals: Cautious Economic Growth, Boom in Military Spending

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivers a speech during the opening session of China's rubber-stamp legislature, the National People's Congress, at The Great Hall of People in Beijing on March 5, 2018. Etienne Oliveau/Getty Images

With the commencement of meetings of the National People’s Congress, China’s rubber-stamp legislature, premier Li Keqiang gave an annual “work report” on March 5, highlighting China’s economic and military goals.

His speech delivered at the Congress’s opening session stressed stable growth, the need to combat unemployment, and the strengthening of China’s military. Below are some major takeaways from Li’s speech:

Economy

Li announced the regime’s aim to expand China’s economy by 6.5 percent in 2018, the same rate as last year.