GUANGZHOU: Mayor Zhang Guangning called employment one of the most important issues for the city government amid the global financial downturn, and promised that Guangzhou will undertake a variety of measures to ensure that the registered unemployment rate stays under 3.6 percent this year.

"Employment is closely related to social stability and harmony; the city government has spared no efforts to handle it," Zhang said at a press conference organized by the municipal people's congress yesterday.

"Nevertheless, we will do out best to keep the registered unemployment rate within 3.6 percent and will try all feasible measures to the end."