Chinese leaders promise reform and moderate growth in 2018

Speeches to National Congress focus on tackling poverty, pollution and financial risk

A man collects recyclables in Gaoyi County in China's Hebei Province. China has vowed to tackle poverty and pollution.

CK TAN, Nikkei staff writer

March 8, 2018 10:00 JST

BEIJING The Chinese government will aim for more moderate growth in 2018 as Beijing focuses on reforms aimed at tackling the structural challenges facing the nation, particularly risks in the financial sector.

Premier Li Keqiang, addressing the National People's Congress in Beijing on March 5, said the country has reached a "pivotal" period in terms of transforming its growth model but that there are still "many hills to climb."