Li Keqiang tells six key provinces to take steps to boost growth

BEIJING • China's Premier Li Keqiang asked local officials from six key provinces that account for about 40 per cent of China's economy to bolster pro-growth measures, after data for last month showed that consumption and output fell below expectations due to Covid-19 lockdowns and the ongoing property slump.

Mr Li told the officials to take the lead in helping boost consumption and offer more fiscal support via government bond issuance for investments, state television CCTV reported on Tuesday evening.

He also vowed to "reasonably" step up policy support to stabilise employment and prices, and ensure economic growth.

"Only when the main entities of the market are stable can the economy and employment be stable," Mr Li was cited as saying at the meeting in a front-page report carried in the People's Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China.

The meeting came after Monday's surprise interest-rate cut did little to allay concern over the property and Covid-19-zero-led slowdown.

Economists have warned of even weaker growth and have called for additional stimulus, such as further cuts in policy rates and bank reserve ratios, and more fiscal spending.

Mr Li acknowledged the greater-than-expected downward pressure from Covid-19 lockdowns in the second quarter, and asked the local officials to strike a balance between pandemic control measures and the need to lift the economy.

"Only by development shall we solve all problems," he said, according to the broadcaster.

Indicating that China may resort to more local debt issuance to pump-prime the economy, Mr Li said "the balance of local special bonds has not reached the debt limit", and the country should "activate the debt limit space according to law", according to the People's Daily report.

He also urged local governments to accelerate the construction of projects with sound fundamentals in the third quarter to drive investment, the report said, adding that the Premier also asked officials to expand domestic consumption of big-ticket items such as vehicles and support housing demand.

He also stressed the importance of opening up the domestic market to foreign investors, noting that the six major provinces - Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Henan, Sichuan and Shandong - account for nearly 60 per cent of China's total foreign trade and foreign investment.

"Opening up is the only way to make full use of the two markets and resources, and improve international competitiveness," he was cited as saying.

Mr Li emerged with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders after a two-week absence from public view, suggesting that they had completed their annual policy retreat in the resort area of Beidaihe.

Before yesterday, there were no state media reports on Mr Xi's activities. Typically, his activities are covered on a near-daily basis.

Visitors to Beidaihe and residents have said that security had been especially tight there in recent weeks.

This year's Beidaihe conclave is especially important, as leaders are expected to have deliberated on personnel moves ahead of the ruling Communist Party's once-in-five-years congress to be held later this year. Mr Xi is widely expected to secure a precedent-breaking third five-year leadership term at the upcoming party congress.

BLOOMBERG, REUTERS