Central People Government of People Re : World Bank economist says China economic policy aims for growth, stability

LONDON - China is pursuing an economic policy that is carefully calibrated to ensure both growth and stability, according to a World Bank economist.

Franziska Ohnsorge, lead economist with the World Bank, told Xinhua in London that China was in the midst of significant structural reforms.

'The authorities are carefully calibrating their growth path. They are beginning to unwind financial sector vulnerabilities.

'House prices seem to be stabilizing. They have placed property market restrictions in some places. Credit growth is slowing,' she said.

'So they are unwinding - slowly, slowly, gradually - financial market vulnerabilities.'

The key to resolving structural imbalance lies in pushing supply-side reform, according to a statement following the Central Economic Work Conference last month.

The curbing of asset bubbles will assume more importance in 2017 as the property market has raised fears of risks to financial stability.

China's pro-growth measures and loose monetary policies had fueled strong growth in real estate and investment, two sectors that have been critical growth drivers, but not without unwanted outcomes.

For example, house prices in major cities have soared in an unreasonable manner and required tightening measures.

Ohnsorge said: 'It is a careful balancing act that the authorities are implementing.'

'For now we see it well managed and it is on track to meet the expectations of a gradual slowdown.'

Ohnsorge is the lead author of the World Bank's latest report on the global economy, which was published on Jan 11.

The report noted that Chinese growth is estimated to have slightly decelerated to 6.7 percent last year.

As part of the continuing economic rebalancing, growth has been concentrated primarily in services, while industrial production has stabilized at moderate levels.

The internal rebalancing is also evident on the demand side - consumption growth has been strong, while investment growth has continued to moderate from the post-crisis peak.