More will be done to save energy and cut pollution in 2007, Premier Wen Jiabao said in his annual report to the National People's Congress (NPC) on Monday, Reuters reported. "We need to greatly improve the quality and efficiency of economic growth," he told the 3,000 delegates. "We must attach greater importance to saving energy and resources, protecting the environment and using land intensively." However, Wen noted that environmental awareness must not come at the expense of "sound and fast economic development". He projected GDP growth of about 8% for 2007, the same target as last year, but admitted that actual growth may be wide of this mark. Economic growth in 2006 was 10.7%. Spending in China's rural areas will rise 15.3% to US$50.6 billion in a bid to boost incomes and close the country's growing wealth gap. An initiative to abolish most school fees for rural children is set to roll out nationwide and a scheme offering basic healthcare to farmers will be broadened.