Premier Li Keqiang has vowed to continue focusing on reforms and creating fresh growth engines, displaying unusual tolerance for slower economic growth.

As long as the economy is kept within a reasonable range of growth, the government will be able to make a more focused effort on reform and generate new power for growth in the long run, he said on Tuesday.

His comments came a day before the announcement of a surprise drop in June exports. The decline adds to fears the economic slowdown will worsen.

Exports fell 3.1 percent in June to $174.3 billion, the lowest level since October 2009, the General Administration of Customs said on Wednesday. Imports slid 0.7 percent to $147.2 billion last month.

But when Li met provincial governors from western China in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Tuesday, he said the economy is still proceeding within a reasonable range, without the growth rate falling too low and inflation running too high.

The country is still making steady progress on economic growth and the main indicators are within the reach of this year's target, Li said.

The target for GDP growth for 2013 is 7.5 percent, while that for inflation is no more than 3.5 percent.

Li stressed that China is at a stage where "only economic transformation and upgrading can support sustainable and healthy development".

Macroeconomic policies should balance growth and reforms, considering both short- and long-term goals and avoiding sharp fluctuations in economic development, he said.

Li vowed in particular to support small- and micro- entrepreneurs, as they provide the most employment opportunities.

He also called for enhanced financial support for central and western regions, encouragement for private investment and the continued elimination of outdated production.

Economists said the risk of a further cooling in the world's second-largest economy stems from weaker exports, stubborn industrial overcapacity and a fast-growing debt ratio.

"The weak trade data pose further downside risks to the June and second-quarter growth numbers that will be released on July 15, helping to reinforce our concern over risks in the second half," said Zhang Zhiwei, chief economist in China with Nomura Securities.

The purchasing managers' index, a gauge of activity in the manufacturing sector, slipped to a four-month low of 50.1 in June from 50.8 in May, according to the statistics bureau.

In addition, the latest liquidity squeeze in the interbank market along with shadow banking activity and local government debt has added to market concerns over China's economic outlook.

So far, the State Council led by Premier Li has sent consistent signals that the policy stance will remain tight to contain financial risks.

"As macro data weaken further, next week will be a testing time for the government in revealing just how much of a growth slowdown it is willing to tolerate," Zhang said.

On Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund cut its forecast for China's economic growth this year to 7.8 percent from 8.1 percent and downgraded its GDP prediction for 2014 to 7.7 percent from 8.3 percent.

IMF chief economist Olivier Blanchard said at a news conference on Tuesday, "My impression is that the country where there is the largest risk in terms of a large decrease in growth is China."

Lu Zhengwei, chief economist with Industrial Bank, said the government may tolerate a lowest growth rate of 7.5 percent and an inflation rate of 3.5 percent.

Huang Yiping, chief China economist at Barclays Capital, speculated that the new leadership may tolerate the growth rate slipping to 7 percent this year. As growth momentum is weak, inflation is less likely to rise above this year's target, Huang said.

The consumer price index, a main gauge of inflation, grew 2.4 percent in the first half.

A report from Barclays Capital said: "We continue to expect further structural reforms ... to be announced in coming months. These should help market mechanisms play a bigger role, increase private investment activity and inject more vigor into the underlying economy."

Contact the writers at chenjia1@chinadaily.com.cn and josephboris@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily USA 07/11/2013 page1)