China concluded the three-day annual Central Economic Work Conference on December 10 in Beijing, which set the tone and five tasks for economic development during the next year.

The meeting says priority should be given to maintaining stable and relatively fast economic growth next year. This will be achieved through expanding domestic demand, restructuring the economy and transforming the growth pattern, and deeping the reform and opening up policy. All will ultimately target improving people's living standard.

In 2009, China will enhance and improve macroeconomic control efforts, carry out an active fiscal policy, as well as a moderately easy monetary policy, and boost the rural market, the central authorities decided.  It is also stressed more efforts should be made to "solve problems related to interests of ordinary people, so as to maintain stability of the society".

(China IP News)