(Authorized for Release by the Two Sessions) Li Keqiang said that over the past year, we focused on adjusting the economic structure and improving the quality and efficiency of development

 

　　Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 5 (Report) — When delivering the government work report at the Second Session of the 12th National People's Congress on the 5th, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council said that over the past year, we focused on adjusting the economic structure and improving the quality and efficiency of development.

 

　　We consolidated and strengthened the agricultural foundation. We advanced pilot comprehensive supporting reforms for modern agriculture and supported the development of appropriately scaled operations in various forms. We completed the reinforcement of 15,000 small reservoirs to eliminate risks and newly resolved the drinking water safety problem for more than 63 million rural residents. We strengthened ecological protection and development, and the national forest coverage rate rose to 21.6 percent.

 

　　We accelerated industrial restructuring. We encouraged the development of the service sector, supported the development of strategic emerging industries, and put fourth-generation mobile communications into formal commercial use. We actively addressed the serious problem of excess production capacity in some industries. We advanced energy conservation, emissions reduction, and pollution prevention and control; energy intensity fell by 3.7 percent, and emissions of sulfur dioxide and chemical oxygen demand fell by 3.5 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively.

 

　　We strengthened infrastructure development. The first phase of the eastern route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project began supplying water ahead of schedule, and the main project of the first phase of the central route was completed on schedule. We advanced the development of urban infrastructure such as underground pipe networks. We expanded oil and gas and power transmission and distribution networks. The share of electricity generated from non-fossil energy reached 22.3 percent. We strengthened the development of civil aviation, water transport, information, and postal networks. The operating mileage of railways and expressways both exceeded 100,000 kilometers, of which the operating mileage of high-speed railways reached 11,000 kilometers, ranking first in the world.

 

　　We pursued innovation-driven development. Spending on research and development across society exceeded 2 percent of GDP. We deepened reform of the science and technology system and implemented knowledge and technological innovation projects. Major breakthroughs were made in a number of key technologies, including supercomputing, intelligent robots, and super hybrid rice.