Premier calls for deepened reform

Vision needed to make policies for long-term issues, Li says

China should promote economic transformation and upgrading through deepened reform while maintaining stable economic development, Premier Li Keqiang said over the weekend.

Li made the remarks while presiding over a seminar on macroeconomics, foreign trade, finance and real estate attended by entrepreneurs, scholars and industry experts.

"Overall, the Chinese economy had a smooth start in 2013. But many uncertainties, both at home and abroad, still persist and make the overall situation quite complicated," Li said.

The consumer price index, the major gauge of inflation, grew 2.1 percent in March from a year earlier, compared with 3.2 percent in February, the National Bureau of Statistics said last week.

China's imports rose 14.1 percent from a year earlier, which trade officials attributed to stronger domestic demand. Meanwhile, exports grew 10 percent year-on-year despite still weak global demand, a performance that boosted officials' confidence they can achieve the 2013 trade growth target of 8 percent.

But the producer price index decreased 1.9 percent from a year earlier, reflecting operational difficulties and pressure on profit growth in the industrial sector amid weak market demand.

"To better grasp the curve of the economy, it is imperative to strengthen foresight," Li said, adding that this will be crucial for the sustained development of the economy.