China to keep economic growth in reasonable range: vice premier

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's economy faces increased downward pressure this year, Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli said on Sunday, while reiterating that economic growth must be kept within a reasonable range.

China's economic growth slowed to just 7.4 percent last year, the slowest in 24 years. Beijing has set a target for growth of around 7 percent for 2015.

"The downward pressure on China's economy increased somewhat since the start of this year," Zhang told a high-level conference in Beijing.

"It's impossible and unnecessary for us to maintain the high-speed growth seen in the past," he added.

"We have paid a price and it's unsustainable. We should focus on improving quality and efficiency, change models and adjust structures."

(Reporting by Kevin Yao; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)