BEIJING - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said the government needs to cool down consumer prices while avoiding major fluctuations in the country's economic growth, according to a statement issued on Tuesday.

The government will simultaneously handle the tasks of maintaining steady growth, restructuring the nation's economy and managing inflation expectations, the statement said.

The statement came after a series of meetings between Wen and major officials from eight of the country's provinces, as well as leading businessmen and economists. The meetings were held from July 4 to 11 in Beijing.

"Stabilizing prices remains the top priority for our macro-regulatory policies," Wen said.

The government is currently grappling with a three-year record high inflation rate of 6.4 percent, as well as slower economic expansion.

Wen said that a moderate monetary policy and a stable supply of food are necessary to tame inflation.

Wen also said that measures to cool down the country's runaway property market should be properly implemented in order to help combat inflation.

While discussing the risks of local government debt, Wen urged local authorities to control debt growth while properly dealing with existing debt.

The National Audit Office estimated that local governments borrowed a total of 10.7 trillion yuan as of the end of last year.

China is slated to release economic data for the second quarter on Wednesday.