住房居住属性(zhùfáng jūzhù shǔxìng): Houses are for people to live in

In this year's Government Work Report, Premier Li Keqiang said that houses are for people to live in and local governments should take primary responsibility in this respect.

According to the report, China will move faster to establish a robust long-term mechanism to promote the steady and sound development of the real estate sector, with multiple levels of demand being met primarily by the market, with basic housing support provided by the government.

Li's assertion that houses are for people to live in shows the government will not ease the controls on the real estate market, and speculative purchases of housing will continue to be curbed.

The governments in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen have reiterated that they will strengthen control of the real estate sector and curb housing speculation, in order to cope with the negative impact that high property prices have on the real economy.

The governments in some second-tier cities where property prices have rapidly increased recently have also carried out or strengthened their real estate policies. Media reports said that since Feb 28, 11 cities including Qingdao, Nanjing and Sanya have all introduced real estate control policies.

Moreover, local governments will also make greater efforts to increase social housing, in order to guarantee people's demand for homes.