Here are five key takeaways:

- Boost economy -

China has set an economic growth target of 4.5-5 percent, the lowest target since 1991, according to AFP research.

Last year's target was around five percent.

While presenting China's annual government work report, Premier Li Qiang stressed on Thursday the need to prioritise strengthening domestic demand and to implement more proactive fiscal policies.

"We will focus on... vigorously boosting consumption, expanding effective investment, and fully leverage the benefits of China's super-large market," Li told ruling party cadres, including President Xi Jinping.

He acknowledged that China was facing "quite a few problems and challenges" in economic development.

Beijing has not managed to stage a full recovery from the pandemic, with a property sector crisis, flagging consumption and high youth unemployment weighing on growth.

"The imbalance between strong supply and weak demand is acute, market expectations are weak, and there are many risks and hidden dangers in key areas," the report said.

China will also aim to create over 12 million new jobs in cities and push for around two percent inflation this year.

- Tech advances -

China has to move faster to achieve increased self-reliance and strength in the science and technology sectors, Li said.

Technology has already featured prominently in China's new Five-Year Plan which is expected to be approved during the "Two Sessions".

Li pledged more support and funding to bring about more "original advances" in industries such as quantum technology, embodied AI, brain-computer interfaces, and 6G technology.

Beijing has been determined to present itself as a world leader in high-tech sectors, pouring billions into its robotics and AI sectors.

It has witnessed a rapid growth in new AI companies, spurred by the success of startup DeepSeek, which stunned the world with a low-cost model last year.

China will promote faster application of AI agents and encourage large-scale commercial application of AI in key sectors and fields, Li said.

- Cut carbon emissions -

China, the world's biggest emitter, said it will ramp up efforts to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate the green transition.

The country emits over 30 percent of global greenhouse gases, and aims for carbon neutrality by 2060.

Li said Thursday that the country will aim to cut carbon dioxide emissions per GDP unit by 3.8 percent in 2026.

"Such a drop will enable us to move step by step toward the goal of peaking carbon emissions before 2030," the report said.

China will aim for a total reduction of 17 percent in carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP for the next five-year period.

China will foster new growth drivers such as hydrogen power and green fuels, it added, with Li pledging tighter regulation over energy-intensive projects.

- Support for elderly, parents -

China will increase the minimum basic old-age benefits for rural and non-working urban residents by 20 yuan ($2.90) per person per month, Li said.

The country's rapidly ageing population and sputtering birth rates have presented fresh challenges for authorities, which have relied on its vast workforce as a driver of economic growth.

A proactive national strategy responding to population ageing will be advanced and measures will be introduced to promote the development of the silver economy, Li said.

The country will increase the supply and quality of elderly care services, especially in rural areas.

Beijing will foster "positive attitudes" towards marriage and childbearing, the report said, adding that China will boost housing support for first-time married couples and those with their first child.

China's birth rate plunged last year to its lowest level on record, official data showed in January.

"We will refine the maternity insurance and parental leave systems, expand demonstrations and trials for subsidised childcare services, and provide support for public-interest childcare services and integrated nursery and childcare services," it added.

- Rooting out corruption -

Combating corruption is a key goal for the country, which has launched a drive to root out graft at all levels of the Chinese Communist Party and state since Xi came to power.

Li told cadres on Thursday that there was a need to intensify efforts to address Party misconduct, acknowledging that "corruption still occurs frequently in some sectors and localities".

"We will tighten regulation and oversight over the allocation and exercise of power... build integrity, and combat corruption in the government," the report said.

"Some officials have a misguided understanding of what it means to perform well; they lack drive, act arbitrarily, work for show, or just go through the motions in their work," it added.