Looking back at this year, China has made continuous efforts in reform. From Dalian to Tianjin, we see a great perspective of China’s development through Premier Li Keqiang’s speeches during the two Davos.

Let the data talk

Emphasis on "maintaining stability" China's economy will not suffer a "hard landing"

During the two Summer Davos forums, Li Keqiang was forthright in making data on China's economy public. He faced the outside world’s "concern and discussion," and spoke of "the difficulties and challenges encountered."

From the “downward pressure of the economy” in 2013, to “economic slowdown” in 2014, Premier Li emphasized the importance of “insisting on maintaining stability in a general tone” in both Davos forums.

He details the new jobs data for this year: "From January to August, the unemployment rate remained at about 5% among 31 cities surveyed. 9.7 million people found new jobs, an increase of more than 100 thousand people compared to the same period last year." He gives the credit of increasing employment to reform. At the same time, he points out that positive changes in China's economy are also a reflection of structural optimization.

About the reform

“The first thing the new leadership tackled was transforming government functions and promoting administrative reform. This year we have cancelled and decentralized more than 200 administrative approvals." Last year in Dalian, Li Keqiang described decentralization in detail.

In the 2013 Summer Davos Forum, Li Keqiang’s speech mentioned the word "reform" 17 times. In 2014 the count was 31. Li hopes that by transforming the "reform dividend" into "new momentum" and "standards of living", the main targets for this year's economic and social development can be achieved.

On innovation

"Reform and innovation is an inexhaustible driver for national development." "Future growth must be based on scientific innovation, with technological progress as the driving force." Li Keqiang stressed that innovation is the driving force at the 2013 forum. He believes that we live in an era of rapid change, and change calls for innovation, and innovation drives progress. The policies adopted by the Chinese government are imbued with the spirit of reform and innovation.

"Innovation constantly revives the Chinese economy..." "Let the energy flow freely to create innovation in the whole society..." In the 2014 Davos forum, Li Keqiang offered a more passionate description of innovation, but also more specific, and more powerful.

Li Keqiang proposed a more ambitious goal on innovation: "to build ourselves into an innovative country considering China's national conditions. "

The article is edited and translated from《李克强两次夏季达沃斯论坛致辞的同与不同》, source: People's Daily Online, author: Zhang Yuke