Chinese premier Wen Jiabao identified tackling inflation as Beijing’s top economic priority this year as his government tries to make the country’s growth more sustainable and equitable.
“Recently prices have risen fairly quickly and inflation expectations have increased,” Mr Wen said in his annual state of the union address in Beijing Saturday. “This problem concerns the people’s wellbeing, bears on overall interests and affects social stability.”
In a speech filled with exhortations to safeguard social harmony and stability, Mr Wen outlined the “brilliant achievements” made by the Communist Party over the last five years and presented a blueprint for the next five-year plan.