DHAKA: China’s economy faces increased downward pressure, its premier has said, as the country prepares to announce first-quarter economic growth.

The government must ‘stand up to the downward pressure’ to avoid an impact on employment and incomes, Premier Li Keqiang said late on Friday, according to a statement on the government’s website, The Straits Times publishes this report on Saturday.

‘At this time, the national economy is running smoothly, but downward pressure continues to grow,’ he said.

Li also called for speeding up reforms in the northeast, a centre of mining and heavy industry that has been lagging in growth.

BDST: 1936 HRS, APR 11, 2015
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