China targets quality, efficient growth in 2013

The meeting especially attached significant importance to urbanization, which has been considered as a main driver for domestic demand and will be actively and steadily pushed forward in 2013, said the statement.

The country will center its efforts on improving the quality of urbanization, incorporating the concept of ecological civilization in the urbanization process to build intelligent, green and low-carbon cities, it said.

"Advancing urbanization will boost both investment and consumption, which plays a significant role in promoting China's sustained and steady growth," said Lian Ping, chief economist at the Bank of Communication.

The country's urban population, which outnumbered that of rural areas for the first time at the end of last year, is expected to account for 70 percent of the total population by 2030, according to a World Bank forecast.

To improve people's well-being, the statement said the country will work to boost employment, reinforce social security networks, and step up construction of low-income housing and renovation of run-down areas.

Official data showed China created 10.24 million new jobs in urban areas in the first nine months of the year, exceeding the annual target of 9 million for this year.

China will continue its property market control policies next year, the statement said.

Stubbornly high real estate prices have been a significant source of public complaint in recent years, forcing the government to implement a string of policies like bans on third-home purchases and property tax trials to keep prices down.

However, the property market has shown warming signs in recent months, after the central bank earlier this year twice cut interest rates and banks' reserve requirement ratio to buoy the economy.

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