Premier Li meets IMF chief

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde ahead of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, capital of China, April 24, 2019. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday met with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde ahead of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held from April 25 to 27 in Beijing.

Current global economy still faces many uncertainties, and China's economy operated steadily in general in the first quarter (Q1) of this year, beating market expectations and getting off to a good start, Li said.

The IMF's move to raise China's GDP forecast showed its confidence in China's economic growth, said Li, acknowledging the Chinese economy still faces downward pressure.

Li said China, the world's largest developing economy, will continue to deepen reform, expand opening-up, streamline administration and delegate powers, and cut taxes and fees on a large scale to stimulate market vitality and ensure the economy operates within an appropriate range.

China is willing to strengthen cooperation with the IMF, which will benefit not only the two parties' development, but also the steady growth of the global economy, Li said.

Lagarde said China's Q1 economic growth is surprisingly good, adding that the IMF believes that China will achieve greater development as it is committed to reform and opening-up and taking measures to cut taxes and fees, and China's economic growth will further facilitate the development of the global economy.