Premier Li Focuses on Innovation, Upgrading to Sustain Growth Amid Headwinds

Premier Li meets with economists ahead of Q1 economic data release, focuses on sustaining growth amid domestic and external headwinds
Cites need to boost innovation, industrial upgrading, and address insufficient demand
Acknowledges complex, severe external environment, says policies are working but implementation needs improving
Economists/business leaders say positive factors increasing, confidence up, but stiff headwinds remain
Growth forecasts raised by some banks and orgs, but property slump, local debt, weak exports still challenge recovery