BEIJING — Premier Li Keqiang has called for efforts to improve the country's range-based regulation of macroeconomic policies, prioritize employment and stimulate the vitality of market entities to sustain the long-term upward momentum of the economy.

Premier Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks on July 12 while presiding over a symposium attended by experts and entrepreneurs.

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

Since the beginning of this year, China's economic performance has been within expectations and the driving force of economic growth has been further consolidated, Premier Li said.

However, he said, the domestic and external environments remain complex with uncertain factors. In particular, medium and small firms are facing difficulties due to higher costs caused by the rising prices of bulk commodities.

Efforts should be made to keep economic operations within a reasonable range over the second half of this year as well as next year, he added.

Premier Li underlined maintaining the continuity and stability of macro policies and sticking to the jobs-first policy.

The recent measure of cutting the reserve requirement ratio should be leveraged to beef up support for medium, small and micro firms, as well as labor-intensive sectors, according to the premier.

Efforts should also be made to increase job opportunities for college graduates and migrant workers, he said.

Premier Li also stressed stimulating the vitality of market entities, expanding higher-level opening-up and boosting the development of the foreign-trade sector.