China said Thursday its macro-economic policies will be continued, aiming to maintain the fast, stable growth for more efficient economic expansion in the new year, with more efforts to help the rural people.

The Chinese leadership put forward the major tasks for the economic work next year at a key three-day meeting. President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao made important speeches on the country's development at the closed-door meeting.

Fast growth is imperative for increasing national strength and effectively relieving contradictions in economic and social development, said a statement issued at the meeting.

It said the key lies in increasing domestic demand, sticking to prudentfiscal and monetary policies and continuing to tighten and ameliorate macro-regulation, largely referring to the government efforts to rein in excessive investment in such overheated sectors as steel, cement and aluminum, and most recently, copper.

"New socialist countryside" was highlighted at the meeting as anew concept and "common action" of the whole Party and nation. The statement said it features growing production, better livelihood, cultural development, clean villages and democratic management of village affairs.

It said measures should be boosted to raise the farmers' income, calling for speeding up the construction of roads and telecom facilities among other infrastructure, and increasing investment in rural education, culture and public health. The development of eastern, central and western areas should be more balanced.

Another emphasis of economic work is placed on sharpening the competitive edge of domestic enterprises. The statement said it is urgent to accelerate industrial restructuring by using advanced technology to upgrade traditional industries and eliminate out-of-date productive forces.

Efforts will be intensified to save resources and protect the environment, while deepening the reform and opening wider to the outside world for win-win results between China and other countries.

Priority will be given to resolve the practical problems concerning the fundamental interests of the general public in the process of building a harmonious society in China, said the statement.