Move on reforms, but not rashly, Xi says

President Xi Jinping has urged officials to push forward reforms but avoid being rash and reckless in the process.

During an inspection tour of the eastern coastal province of Shandong from Sunday to Thursday, Xi said officials should strictly follow instructions from the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the central government. He asked them not to "blindly advance" reforms without fully understanding the top leadership's intention and plan.

Reforms must be unfolded in an orderly manner, and no one should make a "false start" if the central government lays out a timetable, he said. Officials may not hold up reforms that are to be carried out as soon as possible, nor could they take measures that are poorly thought out and need more deliberation, he added.