Wen cuts economic growth target at National People’s Congress

Wen cuts economic growth target at National People's Congress

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao lowered China's economic growth target while opening the last parliament session under the current leadership.

Speaking to some 3,000 delegates at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Wen addressed land rights and military spending in a wide-ranging speech that also covered inflation and job creation targets.

This would be the last National People's Congress ahead of a leadership transition that will take place later this year.

The once-in-a-decade transfer of power is slated to begin in October, with vice-president Xi Jinping widely expected to take over the leadership of the party from president .

Behind the scenes of this session, senior officials would be jockeying for power, according to correspondents, though the Communist party would try to keep any divisions within its ruling elite behind closed doors.