Premier Li Keqiang and other leaders on March 4 joined the country’s political advisors in panel discussions on key state affairs including a new five-year national development plan.

Meeting with advisors from economic and agricultural sectors, the Premier warned of bigger challenges to the country’s economy this year.

Despite complicated and difficult circumstances at home and abroad, China achieved hard-earned progress in economic and social development last year and successfully completed the 12th Five-Year national development plan, Premier Li said.

But the country will face even more serious challenges and difficulties this year, he said.

The Premier promised to deploy a more accurate and effective macro-economic policy and continue the economic restructuring, especially the supply-side reform as well as opening-up policies.

The government aims to stimulate effective investment and consumption, defuse risks and close loopholes so that the economy will remain in a reasonable range, he said.

While the government continues to streamline itself, it will spend more resources in new economic sectors and upgrade traditional growth engines with new technologies and new models, he said.

He also stressed that the government will work to increase productivity and competitiveness of agriculture and keep the growth of farmers’ income.