By Li Hongmei
A top Chinese leader yesterday promised "unprecedented" economic and societal reforms at the Party's plenum meeting next month.
Yu Zhengsheng, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Party's Central Committee, said the meeting would "principally explore the issue of deep and comprehensive reforms."
"The reforms this time will be broad, with major strength, and will be unprecedented," he said, according to the Xinhua news agency.
"Inevitably they will strongly push forward profound transformations in the economy, society and other spheres."
Yu made the remarks at the opening ceremony of a cross-Strait trade and cultural forum in Nanning, capital of the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Yu and Kuomintang honorary Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung delivered speeches at the ceremony.
Yu and Wu proposed that the two sides should jointly reinvigorate the Chinese nation by deepening cross-Strait economic, technological, cultural and educational cooperation.
"The concept of 'the two sides are of one family' and the awareness of 'common destiny across the Strait' should be reinforced," Yu said.
Yu's comments on the reforms are among the first from China's leaders about the plenum, where President Xi Jinping is expected to press for greater economic reforms.
The broad reform agenda is expected to steer the world's second-largest economy, which is experiencing slowing growth, from a reliance on investment to a more balanced model driven more by consumption, services and innovation.
The meeting will mark the third time the 200-member Central Committee has gathered since a leadership transition last year.
Historically, third plenums in China have served as a springboard for key economic reforms.
China's Cabinet has called for greater effort in revamping the economy because a recovery is not yet solid.
China's US$8.5 trillion economy grew at its fastest pace this year between July and September in a rebound fueled largely by investment, although signs are emerging the pick-up in activity may lose some vigor. China still expects to meet its economic targets for this year, including a growth of 7.5 percent.
China this week launched a new benchmark lending rate, aimed at letting markets set the cost of funds and reducing distortions that have led to excessive investment and overcapacity now dogging the economy.
At the plenum, the reform agenda is likely to feature financial and tax, but may also address issues such as land reforms and liberalizing China's household registration system.
