Full coverage: 2016 Central Economic Work Conference

A key economic planning meeting kicked off Wednesday in Beijing. The Xinhua News Agency reports that top Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, will preside over the annual  Central Economic Work Conference.

The conference sets the national agenda for China's economy and finance. The gathering is normally held over a couple of days during the second or third week of December.

The conference usually reviews the nation's economic performance and sets goals for the coming year.

President Xi said earlier that he is confident China will hit its major economic and social targets for 2016.

He also said that China's 13th Five-Year Plan period from this year till 2020 will be off to a good start.