Xi calls for 'decisive results' in key reforms by 2020

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Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for "decisive results" on critical reforms in the country by next year.

Xi said more attention should be paid to measures that will help people have a stronger sense of gain and greater happiness, and to feel safer and more secure.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, chairman of the Central Military Commission and head of the central committee for deepening overall reform, made the remarks on Wednesday when presiding over the sixth meeting of the reform committee.

Fifteen documents were adopted at the meeting, including plans to set up a NASDAQ-style board for tech companies in Shanghai, for the protection of the ecological system, the coordination of urban-rural development and the improvement in social services.

Also approved were the work of the central committee for deepening overall reform in 2019, the report of last year's work of the reform committee, and an evaluation report on the progress of China's extensive reform drive since the 18th CPC National Congress in November 2012.

Xi drew reference to the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee in November 2013, calling it an epoch-making event that created a new situation for China's reform and opening-up.

Xi said China should keep fighting the tough battles and lay a decisive foundation for fulfilling the reform tasks mapped out at the session.

A plan to set up a NASDAQ-style board is an important measure to implement the strategy of innovation-driven development and deepen reforms of the capital market, Xi said.

Xi hailed green technology innovation as an "important driving force" that will greatly reduce pollution and propel ecological progress and high-quality development.

Xi demanded that reforms should focus more on solving practical problems, especially reforms directly influencing the lives of the people at the grassroots level and reforms bringing real benefits to the people.

Empty reform slogans should be avoided, Xi said, calling for the strengthening of policy interpretation and guidance, evaluation for reform effectiveness, and inspection of reform measures.

Li Keqiang and Wang Huning, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy heads of the reform committee, also attended the meeting.

A comprehensive reform package, covering 60 tasks and over 300 reform measures, was announced at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee.