BEIJING, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) on Monday unveiled its major economic tasks for 2016, the first year of the country's 13th Five-year Plan.
To reduce housing inventories, more migrant rural workers should be issued with urban-residency permits, which will allow them to purchase housing in cities, according to a statement released after a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee presided over by President Xi Jinping.
China should also increase the urbanization ratio, which is based on the number of registered urban residents.
The ratio of registered urban residents to the total population was 35.9 percent at the end of 2014. An existing plan had set the target of increasing this to 45 percent by 2020.
China will make cities more livable, adjust the size of cities, improve urban infrastructure and protect historical and cultural heritage, the statement said.
The government should also improve urban planning and management.
In 2016, China will continue to promote mass entrepreneurship and innovation by relieving financial strain for companies. Measures include reductions to transaction costs, taxes and social insurance fees, the statement said.
The government aims to improve the overall business environment by encouraging mergers, reorganization and, in some cases, companies filing for bankruptcy.
"China should prevent and resolve financial risks and defend the bottom line to eliminate systemic and regional financial risks," the statement said.
The streamlining of administrative processes, delegation of power, reform of state-owned firms, taxation, finance and social security will also continue to be prioritized.
The statement added that a basic living standard should be ensured for the people, while the protection of intellectual property rights and the interests of foreign companies will help industrial cooperation with other countries and improve the domestic investment environment.
In 2016, China should continue to keep economic growth at a proper range. In the first three quarters of 2015, China's economy expanded by 6.9 percent, generally in line with the government's target of around 7 percent.
"While improving domestic demand, the country should raise the quality and efficiency on the supply side," the statement said.
In addition, attention will be given to raise effective investment, cultivate new growth engines and reinforce the competitiveness of traditional sectors, the statement added.
Last Thursday, the CPC Central Committee held a meeting to solicit opinions on the proposed economic work from non-CPC personnel, according to another statement unveiled Monday.
Xi said, while presiding over the meeting, that China's economic and social development, especially structural reform, would be arduous next year.
The country should continue to reform and open up, stick to the general guideline of "seeking progress while maintaining stability and promoting the improvement of productivity," he said.
Related:
China Focus: China economy sees more signs of improvement
BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- New macroeconomic indicators have suggested stabilization in the Chinese economy and that China is on track to meeting the government's growth target for 2015.
Among the positives from figures released on Saturday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) are a notable rebound in industrial production and steady fixed-asset investment growth in November. Full story
China Voice: China takes Internet approach towards economic reform
BEIJING, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- From Singles' Day to the Internet Plus campaign, online connectivity is bringing changes to almost all sectors of China's economy, and has become key to economic reform.
China has the world's biggest online community, with about half the population connected, changing the way people shop, pay their bills and the way they think. Full story
China says confident of meeting 2015 growth target
BEIJING, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official said Friday that the economy is showing signs of improvement, helped by policy support, and is on track to meet its growth target of around 7 percent this year.
Expressing his confidence that China would meet this target, Sheng Laiyun, spokesman of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said "China's economy is operating steadily in the first three quarters of the year, which has laid a solid foundation for achieving the full-year growth target."Full Story
Xinhua Insight: China pins growth hopes on consumption, service
BEIJING, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- As demand for exports continues to slip and the real estate sector cools, China expects consumption and the service sector to help pick slack.
The nationwide shopping spree on Single's Day (Nov. 11) offered solid proof of the spending power for the country's billion-plus population.Full Story