THE government will maintain policy support for the economy, which still faces “downward pressure” and difficulties after better-than-expected first-quarter growth, a top decision-making body of the Party said Friday.

The statement from the politburo came two days after China reported a steady 6.4 percent annual growth in the January-March period, defying expectations for a further slowdown, as industrial production jumped sharply and consumer demand showed signs of improvement.

“While fully affirming the achievements, we should clearly see that there are still many difficulties and problems in economic operations,” Xinhua reported, quoting a politburo meeting chaired by President Xi Jinping.

“The external economic environment is generally tightening and the domestic economy is under downward pressure.”

China will implement counter-cyclical adjustments “in a timely and appropriate manner,” while the proactive fiscal policy will become more forceful and effective, and the prudent monetary policy will be neither too tight nor too loose, it said.

For this year, the government has unveiled tax and fee cuts amounting to 2 trillion yuan (US$298.35 billion) to ease burdens on firms, while the central bank has cut banks’ reserve requirement ratios (RRR) five times since early 2018 to spur lending. Further policy easing is widely expected.

On Friday, the politburo reiterated that the government will effectively support the private economy and the development of small and medium-sized firms.

Authorities will strike a balance between stabilizing economic growth, promoting reforms, controlling risks and improving people’s livelihoods, the politburo said.

China will push forward structural deleveraging and prevent speculation in the property market, it said.

“We should adhere to the orientation that houses are used for living, not for speculation,” the politburo said, reaffirming a city-based approach in controlling the property sector.

(SD-Agencies)