BEIJING, March 5 (Reuters) - China's Premier Wen Jiabao said on Saturday that inflation was affecting social stability and taming it was a top priority for this year, while the government would aim for economic growth of about 8 percent.
In China's version of a "State of the Union" address, Wen told the annual parliament session that the government would aim to keep inflation at about 4 percent, and the deficit at 2.0 percent of GDP.
"Recently, prices hace risen fairly quickly and inflation expectations have increased. This problem concerns the people's well-being, bears on overall interests and affects social stability," he said.
Wen's comments were in the text of his annual work report to the National People's Congress.
(Reporting by Beijing news team; Editing by Ken Wills)