Zeng Peiyan, minister in charge of the State Development Planning Commission, today listed major targets for national economic and social development in 2000 while he presented a report on the Implementation of the 1999 Plan and the draft 2000 plan for National Economic and Social Development to the Third Session of the Ninth NPC:

-- Economic growth rate of around 7 percent;

-- Increase in total fixed asset investment of around 10 percent;

-- Consumer price level and overall retail price level equal to or slightly higher than those of 1999;

-- Total import and export volume up by 3 percent and a basic equilibrium of balance of payments;

-- Central government deficit of 229.9 billion yuan;

-- Total volume of currency issued around 150 billion yuan;

-- Registered urban unemployment rate controlled around 3.5 percent; and

-- Natural population growth rate of 9.2 per thousand.