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BEIJING, Jan. 25-- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Friday that the country has full confidence and capability to keep economic growth rate within an appropriate range in 2019 despite challenges. The remarks came as Li had a discussion with some foreign experts working in China at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing prior to the Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 5 this year. "China's economy has enough resilience, potential and ample room for growth, especially with a huge domestic market and rich human resources of nearly 1.4 billion people, therefore, we are fully confident and capable of keeping economic growth rate within an appropriate range in spite of multiple risks and challenges in 2019," Li told foreign experts. China's economy, the world's second largest, grew 6.6 percent year on year to reach 90.0309 trillion yuan (about 13.28 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2018, above the official target of around 6.5 percent, according to data issued by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday. "The growth rate of 6.6 precent is hard-won, as it is on the basis of China's very high economic output, fairly sufficient employment and continuous improvement of environment," said Li. China will forge ahead with reforms unswervingly and inspire the vitality and creativity of some 100 million market entities, Li said. He said China will further streamline administration, delegate more power, strengthen regulation, provide better services, reduce taxes and fees on a larger scale, further ease market access and provide a business environment of fair competition. | 
