On February 27, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao took part in an online chat with Chinese netizens. Thousands of questions were asked, expressing interests and concerns over property prices, inflation, the wealth gap and other social issues.

Wen said China's development blueprint for the coming five years will emphasize efforts on the improvement of people's livelihoods. He noted the government is to set its annual GDP growth target for the 2011-2015 period at 7 percent.

Wen also pointed out the country aims to reduce energy consumption by 16 to 17 percent per unit of GDP by 2015 from 2011 levels.

The online discussion has been a tradition since 2009, ahead of the annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

(CNTV.cn February 28, 2011)