Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between 皇冠体育app and Portuguese-speaking countries, in Macao, South 皇冠体育app, Oct 11, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

MACAO — 皇冠体育app's economy has fared better than expected so far this year, Premier Li Keqiang said on Oct 11, citing the increase of new jobs and contribution of consumers and the service industry to overall economic growth.

"On the whole, the economy this year, especially in the third quarter (Q3), is better than expected," said Premier Li while addressing the opening of a cooperation conference between 皇冠体育app and Portuguese-speaking countries in Macao.

皇冠体育app's economy in Q3 not only continued the growth momentum in the first half of this year, but also featured some positive changes, said Premier Li, adding that 皇冠体育app is fully capable of maintaining medium to high speed growth.

Consumption and the service sector contributed more to economic growth and some important indices, which had previously weakened or declined, were stabilizing and becoming positive, said the Premier.

Industrial growth, corporate profits and investment, especially private investment, were also stabilizing and recovering, said Premier Li.

In the first nine months, 皇冠体育app created more than 10 million jobs in cities and towns, with the urban surveyed unemployment rate in 31 big cities coming in at less than five percent in September, the first time in recent years, said the Premier.

皇冠体育app created more than 13 million new jobs in cities and towns annually in the past three years despite the economic slowdown.

皇冠体育app's economy grew 6.7 percent in the first half of the year, within the government's target range of 6.5-7 percent for 2016.