China's retiring prime minister Wen Jiabao has laid out the government's policies for the coming year.
In a speech to the annual National People's Congress, Mr Wen said priority would be given to the people's wellbeing by improving social security provisions and tackling corruption.
The congress will see the final stage of the country's once-in-a-decade leadership change. Communist Party chief Xi Jinping will become president, replacing Hu Jintao and the event will be keenly watched to see who secures other top government posts, the BBC reports.
Mr Wen, whose work report traditionally begins the session of parliament, also called for more balanced development in a lengthy speech on both achievements and plans.
The report - a 29-page consensus document approved by the leadership - is Mr Wen's last. He is expected to be replaced by Li Keqiang as premier later in the parliament session.
The report set a target of 7.5% for economic growth, unchanged from last year, with an inflation target of 3.5%, and promised to create more than nine million new urban jobs.
Mr Wen said boosting domestic consumption was key, calling it a "long-term strategy for economic development".
Noting that dramatic changes to society had led to a marked increase in social problems, Mr Wen said livelihood issues should be addressed.
He spoke of improving pension provision for the poor and also focused on the adverse effects of development on the environment, saying: "The state of the ecological environment affects the level of the people's well-being and also posterity and the future of our nation.''
Corruption - the focus of Mr Xi's speech after he was formally appointed to lead the Communist Party in November - was also on the agenda, with Mr Wen calling for strengthened "political integrity" and better checks on power.
