We can expect forceful measures as Chinese President Hu Jintao has vowed to curb rising food prices and address a booming real estate market.

Hu Jintao said, ‘The central government attaches great importance to commodity prices and has made it an important task to stabilize them. A series of forceful measures have been taken and will continue to be taken to ensure the normal life of the masses.’

According to official statistics inflation hit an 11-year high of 6.9% in November. This was mainly caused by an 18.2% rise in food prices with pork up a staggering 56%.

Hu Jintao also vowed to curb rising housing prices to help low-income families and to provide them with better health care benefits, two other top concerns of ordinary Chinese.

He said, ‘The Party and government are very much concerned about the housing problem of the low-income masses.
‘The central government has made arrangements to speed up the low-rent housing system, improve the affordable housing system and ease the housing difficulties of urban low-income families.’

Hu made the comments as he visited a family at their small rental home in Tianjin and a retirement facility in the city.
Source: AFP