The country's economy faces the toughest year since 2000, Premier Wen Jiabao said at an executive meeting of the State Council yesterday.

At the meeting held to discuss the draft government work report, Wen said more steps should be taken in the first quarter to revert the economic slowdown and ensure a good start to 2009.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), however, said the GDP growth will remain at 8.3 percent this year.