China’s national legislature has endorsed government plans to reduce the country’s annual economic growth target from 7.5 to 7 percent before closing an annual session that also focused on maintaining employment levels, fighting corruption and curbing pollution.

The National People’s Congress voted 2,852-to-18 in favor of the government work report that was delivered at the start of the 11-day session by Premier Li Keqiang. The Premier held his only scheduled news conference of the year on March 15.

-- AP