Ministry backs property moves

The central government endorses local governments' measures to revitalize property markets, a senior official said on Saturday.

"Local governments should be allowed certain freedom in formulating real estate policies," Qiu Baoxing, vice-minister of housing and urban-rural planning, said at the China Mayors Forum in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

"I believe each city government is capable of adopting sensible measures suited to local conditions."