Officials hail govt plan to boost jobs, export sector

The nation's top political advisors lauded the govern-ment's plan to bolster employment and the economy, while emphasizing the need to support the export sector in the face of the financial crisis.

Premier Wen Jiabao delivered his work report to the National People's Congress (NPC) yesterday, reiterating the government's faith to keep the economy growing at 8 percent in 2009, while creating 9 million jobs.

Wen pledged a series of measures to boost domestic demand, including a 950-billion-yuan ($139 billion) government deficit to fund investment in major infrastructure projects and the nation's social safety net.