Beijing | China unlocked more fiscal stimulus on Wednesday, promising greater efforts to support consumption and soften the impact of an escalating trade war with the United States on an economy that Beijing wants to achieve 5 per cent growth this year.

In a speech at the opening of the annual meeting of China’s parliament, known as the National People’s Congress, Premier Li Qiang warned that “changes unseen in a century are unfolding across the world at a faster pace”.