Premier Li Keqiang on Dec 8 said the country will make efforts to keep economic operations within a reasonable range, in a video meeting with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

Premier Li said that China is expected to achieve positive economic growth this year. The premier pointed out that the current global economy is moving towards recovery, along with some uncertainties, and affirmed that China will continue to coordinate epidemic control with economic and social development, maintain continuity and stability in its macroeconomic policies, and strive to keep its economic growth within a reasonable range.

According to Premier Li, the IMF has played an important role in promoting free trade and global economic development. He said that he hoped the institution could promote and uphold multilateralism, to which China, as the largest developing country, is ready to make due contributions.

Georgieva said that the IMF appreciated the instrumental role China plays in fields including trade, world economic recovery, poverty eradication as well as low-carbon development. The IMF is willing to strengthen cooperation with China to jointly safeguard multilateralism, inject impetus into global trade, and further consolidate the momentum of steady economic recovery, said Georgieva.

According to the latest World Economic Outlook report released in October, China's economy is expected to achieve a 1.9 percent growth this year, 0.9 percentage points above its June forecast, which would make it the only major economy to see positive growth this year.

During the fifth "1+6" Roundtable via video link last month, Premier Li stated that the newly signed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is connected with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, which is conducive to promoting economic globalization and trade liberalization.

Data from China's Customs showed that the country's exports in November rose at the fastest pace since February 2018, surging by 21.1 percent year-on- year, partly boosted by strong global demand for industrial products.