Premier Li Keqiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, presided over a symposium on compiling the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development on Nov 25.

Vice-Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, attended the symposium.

At the symposium, Premier Li heard a report from the National Development and Reform Commission on the ongoing compilation of the 14th Five-Year Plan and suggestions for the work.

The Premier said that the 13th Five-Year Plan has been carried out within expectations, with the economy maintaining high growth, and industrial structural adjustment, poverty alleviation and people's lives all improving.

He encouraged local governments to fully complete the following work of the 13th Five-Year Plan to lay a solid foundation for the 14th Five-Year Plan.

Premier Li said that the external environment may become more complicated with increasing uncertainties and challenges during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Currently, China is at a crucial stage of transforming economic development modes, optimizing economic structures and converting growth drivers.

Based on domestic situations and development phase, the formulation of the 14th Five-Year Plan requires accurate assessment of development opportunities and insightful analysis of challenges and difficulties, and should set development as a primary task, he said.

And, maintaining the economy within an appropriate range, promoting high-quality development, adhering to the people-centered principle, and solving problems through reform and opening-up should be highlighted in the 14th Five-Year Plan.

The 14th Five-Year Plan will list development targets, working guidelines and key tasks to give society positive expectations and encourage the whole country to strive forward, according to the Premier.

Premier Li called for careful planning covering all aspects involved to support socioeconomic development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

“To shore up the economy, improve people’s well-being, guard against and resolve risks, among others, major policies should be in place,” he said.

More measures should be studied to promote reform and opening-up to inject vitality into the market and power growth, Premier Li stressed.

Meanwhile, he called for more progress in streamlining administration and optimizing government services, as well as in creating a market-oriented business environment in line with the rule of law and international standards, with a clear demarcation between government and market.

Premier Li also required attention to improving weak links, boosting industrial upgrade, gaining sustainable momentum and benefiting people’s livelihoods.

In achieving these goals, he added, key projects should be initiated to mobilize private sectors and the public, strengthen infrastructure, foster industrial competitiveness through innovation, and build a better ecological environment.

Governmental departments should cooperate on thorough research and waste no time in drafting the general principles of the plan in a well-organized way, Premier Li said.

At the same time, work should be done to carry out goal-specific studies and solicit opinions from all stakeholders, before mapping out its outline.

Vice-Premiers Sun Chunlan, Hu Chunhua and Liu He, State Councilors Wei Fenghe and Wang Yong, State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State Council Xiao Jie, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Bater, and He Lifeng, head of the NDRC, also attended the symposium.