China’s Premier Wen opens National People’s Congress

In an address seen as China’s “state of the nation” speech, Mr Wen said China had set a 7.5% economic growth target this year – lower than the 8% target of the last eight years.

He said the move aimed to allow changes to the pattern of economic development, making it “more sustainable and efficient”.

China also set its inflation target at 4% and pledged to create nine million new jobs in towns and cities.

Mr Wen spoke of boosting domestic consumption, increasing spending on social services and raising incomes of middle and low-income groups, as well as expanding consumer credit.

“We aim to promote steady and robust economic development, keep prices stable, and guard against financial risks by keeping the total money and credit supply at an appropriate level, and taking a cautious and flexible approach,” he said.

The premier addressed the issue of land rights – a topic that has become more prominent in recent months following high-profile protests against land seizures for development in the Guangdong village of Wukan.

“Farmers’ rights to the land they contract to work on, to the land on which their houses sit and to proceeds from collective undertakings are property rights conferred by law, and these rights must not be violated by anyone,” he said.

Security issues were also high on the agenda. Parliament convened a day after China announced a 11.2% increase in its defence spending – pushing it above $100bn (£65bn) for the first time.