China's premier has formulated a series of amendments to his blueprint for the economy as he attempts to boost growth and strengthen domestic demand, Zhao Yinan reports.

When Premier Li Keqiang greeted New Zealand Governor-General Jerry Mateparae in a Uygur-style room in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing last week, he probably didn't expect the high-level bilateral talks to devolve into a question and answer session about China's economic reforms.

While it's customary for international leaders to inquire about the latest news on the Chinese economy - it's an issue that has ramifications for all nations, after all - Mateparae probed a little deeper below the surface of GDP growth and discussed the underlying health of the economy.