China looks to keep steady economic policies, deepen reforms to support growth

Experts say new Communist Party chief Xi Jinping needs to take bold steps in enacting economic reforms.

China will maintain steady economic policies in 2013, leaving room for manoeuvre in the face of global risks while deepening reforms to support long-term growth, the official Xinhua news agency said after an annual policy-setting conference yesterday.

Chinese leaders have already pledged to ensure stable economic growth next year, and the latest announcement follows a December 7 Reuters report in which sources said that China’s leaders were likely to stick with a growth target of 7.5% next year, the same as in 2012.

Experts say new Communist Party chief Xi Jinping needs to take bold steps in enacting economic reforms that could include restructuring how China achieves its growth by emphasizing consumption over investment and exports, and loosening the dominance of state companies.

China will ensure appropriate growth in bank loans and social financing in 2013 and will keep the yuan currency stable to cushion economy against global headwinds, Xinhua said after the close of the annual Central Economic Work Conference, which Xi presided over.

“China will continue to implement the pro-active fiscal policy and prudent monetary policy in 2013,” Xinhua said.