Premier Li Keqiang says China will try to keep its economy growing at a medium to high rate as the country strives to restructure its economy.

He made the comment at a recent symposium to solicit opinion from experts and entrepreneurs on the draft of the annual government Work Report and the country's 13th Five-Year Plan.

"We need to be clear that the Chinese economy is at a crucial stage of structural transformation during which we still need to keep it growing within an appropriate range, to grow at a medium to high speed. In the meantime, we should pay attention to other indexes, first of all employment, wages are also very important, the other one is the widely focused environment."

Li said that the government should strive to create new growth drivers and promote innovation-driven growth through encouraging mass entrepreneurship and innovation.

"How should we steadily promote the upgrading of traditional growth divers and industries? While the government should play a leading role, we must rely on the market. Without the effect of market, the upgrading will not run smoothly. Basically, it relies on the enterprises' own revamping, they should show greater efficiency and solve the problem of redundant labor appropriately. "

He promised that the government would encourage financial institutions to offer more support for enterprises as they upgrade.

Li will deliver the final work report at the annual session of the National People's Congress in March.

(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2016)