Stabilizing economic growth China's top priority

BEIJING - Chinese authorities on Tuesday reaffirmed their stance of maintaining stable economic growth as the top priority, pledging the adherence to proactive fiscal policy and prudent monetary policy to weather the current hardships.

The ongoing pace of economic growth is within expectations, but the external environment remains grim and poses difficulties and challenges to growth, according to a newsletter released after a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, which was presided over by President Hu Jintao.

"We should observe the problems and risks, strengthen risk-awareness and make good preparations, while noting that economic growth is sound," read the newsletter.

"We should remain firmly confident in our economic work to promote steady and relatively fast growth," it said.