To some extent, the report has been "structured" by circumstances, China's development has reached a phase where reform and opening-up and government modernization are essential for promoting economic growth and improving people's livelihoods. But the report also highlights the government's recognition these are all interrelated.

The first section of the report is more conservative when it comes to the government's achievements compared with previous years and it is made up of hard facts and figures. And, as Ning said, mentioning the past year's accomplishments is not to show off, but to consolidate people's confidence to face up to and overcome the new challenges.

The report objectively analyzes the challenges and strikes a delicate balance between creating a sense of urgency that the challenges must be met and the confidence that they can be tackled successfully.

A core message the Chinese government has sent through the report is the Chinese economy has the resilience and potential, if the necessary reforms and restructuring efforts are implemented, to realize growth of about 7 percent this year, a target that will guarantee enough jobs are created, and sufficient government revenue is generated to provide better public products and services.

The report does not dwell on principles, but explicitly sets the targets, deadlines, clear to-do lists and directions for almost all the government's fields of work.

Premier Li is using macro-control policies accurately and preemptively to ensure the number of new jobs and the consumer price index remain within a rational range. And government reform, efforts to stimulate innovation and consumption, and exports of capital and productivity are all endeavors to serve this purpose while restructuring the economy.

As the premier urged, local civil servants should feel the urgency of changing their mindsets and entering a new "state" under the country's new normal.

The author is a writer with China Daily. liyang@chinadaily.com.cn