STEERING ECONOMY ON STEADY COURSE

Despite downward pressure and external uncertainties, China's economy has maintained steady growth in 2019, making progress in pursuing high-quality development.

The Chinese economy expanded 6.2 percent in the first three quarters of 2019, the fastest among the world's major economies with a gross domestic product of more than one trillion US dollars.

Employment remained stable, with 12.79 million new urban jobs being created during the January-November period, fulfilling the government's 2019 target ahead of schedule.

Coordinated regional development continued apace. President Xi's domestic footprints signaled governance priorities, of which coordinated regional development has been high on the agenda.

From the Xiongan New Area in Hebei, Tianjin, Beijing to Chongqing, Jiangxi and Shanghai, Xi's 2019 inspection tours injected impetus to the development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, western region, central region and Yangtze River Economic Belt region.

China's new foreign investment law took effect Wednesday, a testament to the country's determination in opening wider to the outside world.

According to the latest World Bank report, China ranked 31st globally for ease of doing business, up from 46th in its previous annual report, and China's strong reform agenda placed the country in the world's top 10 "most improved" list for the second consecutive year.

"I have full confidence in China's prospects of development," Xi said.