BEIJING (Reuters) - China will strive to achieve positive economic growth this year, Premier Li Keqiang said on Thursday, adding that growth remained important even though the government had not set any target for the first time in years.

China does not need a massive stimulus but liquidity will be increased because "exceptional situations call for exceptional measures", Li said during his once-a-year news conference following the close of the annual meeting of parliament.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo and Kevin Yao; Writing by Stella Qiu and Yawen Chen; Editing by Gareth Jones)