Beijing shifts focus to economic stability

People’s needs: Farmers tend to a vegetable plot near high-rise apartment buildings in Jiangsu province. The government says it will support commercial housing markets to meet residents’ reasonable needs. — Bloomberg

BEIJING: China stressed it will aim to keep the economy expanding in a stable manner next year as it looks to counteract the effects of a housing market slump and slower growth.

“Ensuring stability is the top priority for next year’s economic work,” the Communist Party’s top decision makers said at the end of a three-day annual Central Economic Work Conference.