China’s top leaders sought to project confidence in the country’s economy on Wednesday despite sluggish growth, an escalating trade war with the United States and growing geopolitical uncertainty caused by the Trump administration.

       The government will aim to expand China’s economy by “around 5 percent” this year, said Premier Li Qiang, China’s highest-ranking official after Xi Jinping, at the opening of the annual session of the country’s rubber-stamp legislature.

       Mr. Li acknowledged that the economy faced many challenges and that “arduous efforts” would be needed to meet the targets. But he struck a positive note about the country’s prospects, saying: “The underlying trend of long-term economic growth has not changed and will not change. The giant ship of China’s economy will continue to cleave the waves and sail steadily toward the future.”

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       Premier Li Qiang’s speech was carried live on outdoor screens in Beijing on Wednesday. Chinese leaders have been trying to restore faith in the economy, which has struggled to regain momentum after the pandemic.Credit...Greg Baker/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

       The meeting in Beijing, called the National People’s Congress, is a tightly scripted political pageant that runs for several days, showcasing how Mr. Xi plans to lead China through what he has often described as “great changes unseen in a century” in the world.

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       Mr. Xi’s vision includes lifting China’s technological prowess and self-reliance and beefing up its military capabilities so it can dominate the Asia-Pacific region. It is focused on strengthening the ruling Communist Party’s grip on power by making national security a priority for all facets of Chinese society. Security was tight at the legislative session, which brings around 3,000 delegates to the Great Hall of the People, with police posted at several checkpoints near the venue.

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