China opens key economic policy meeting

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BEIJING, Dec 3 (Xinhua): China's top leaders gathered in Beijing today to determine economic policies for 2008 amid efforts to prevent the economy from overheating and to curb inflation.
The Central Economic Work Conference, an annual event initiated more than a decade ago, has served as a crucial mechanism for the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council to run the Chinese economy.
Despite spectacular economic and social development since the start of the year, on the agenda at the conference is how to cool off booming investment and bank lending, address the soaring trade surplus, and improve the people's livelihood, sources said.
The conference will work out specific strategies and resolutions for these problems China is confronted with in its development.
China's economy is expected to expand 11.5 per cent this year, fueled mainly by investment spending which rose 26.9 per cent in the first ten months.