The goal came with China already facing strong economic headwinds, including a persistent property sector debt crisis, stubbornly low consumer demand and stuttering employment for young people.

The objective is set to be officially announced later in the morning by Chinese Premier Li Qiang in the opening speech of the country's rubber-stamp National People's Congress (NPC) parliament, which starts at 9:00 am.

It came alongside a pledge to create 12 million new jobs in China's cities and push for two percent inflation in 2025.

The world's second-largest economy has struggled to regain its footing since the pandemic, as domestic consumption flags and a persistent debt crisis in the vast property sector drags on.

Adding to the hurdles is US President Donald Trump, who this week slapped more blanket tariffs on Chinese imports following a similar move last month.

US tariffs are expected to hit hundreds of billions of dollars in total trade between the world's two largest economies.