China’s Premier Li Keqiang expressed determination on Sunday to press ahead with reforms meant to reduce the Chinese government’s role in the world’s second-largest economy in hopes of spurring growth despite what he acknowledged would be pain for “vested interests” that benefit from regulation.

“This is not nail-clipping. This is like taking a knife to one’s own flesh,” Mr Keqiang said at a news conference after the close of China’s annual legislature in Beijing. “But however painful it might be, we are determined to keep going until our job is done,” he said adding, the number of private businesses being set up has doubled following efforts already underway simplify the process of registering a new enterprise. The government lowered it’s official economic growth to 7 per cent from last year’s 7.5 per cent and to maintain employment levels, fight corruption and curb pollution.