China still faces “a very complex situation” although this year's development environment may be better than last's, Premier Wen Jiabao told the Chinese National People’s Congress (NPC)’s opening session in Beijing on March 5.

The country will continue to implement a proactive fiscal policy and a moderately loose monetary policy, as well as stimulus measures targeted at achieving an economic growth rate of 8 percent this year, said Wen.

Other key economic and social targets this year included creating more than 9 million jobs in cities, keeping urban unemployment under 4.6 percent and keeping the rise in consumer prices at about 3 percent.

To achieve "sound development" the government needs to guide all sectors to focus on transforming economic growth models and restructuring the economy, Wen told nearly 3,000 NPC deputies.

He affirmed that 2010 is a "crucial year" for continuing to combat the global financial crisis, maintaining "steady and rapid" economic development, and accelerating economic restructuring.

Wen also said the reform of the household registration system will be carried out and the government will draft out policies to stimulate development in Tibet and Xinjiang autonomous regions.

In the report, Wen affirmed that although 2009 was "the most difficult year" for China ’s economy in the new millennium, China 's economy expanded 8.7 percent in 2009, staging a faster-than-expected recovery, thanks to a raft of stimulus measures.

The NPC’s third session is scheduled to last until March 14./.