Xi stresses greater courage, wisdom in deepening reforms

China must deepen reforms in major areas with "ever more political courage and wisdom" to surmount the institutional barriers that are restraining growth, President Xi Jinping has stressed. Xi made the remarks on Tuesday at a conference in central China's Hubei province, attended by top officials from Hubei, Shanxi, Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Zhejiang and Hunan provinces. "China must break the barriers from entrenched interest groups to further free up social productivity and invigorate creativity," he urged. Noting China's reforms have entered a most difficult phase, Xi urged authorities to carry out comprehensive and in-depth research to explore solutions to the arduous tasks facing China's development. The latest emphasis on deepening reforms came as the world's second-largest economy is still in a protracted slowdown. Economic growth expanded by 7.5 percent in the second quarter, down from 7.7 percent during the first quarter and just in line with the annual 7.5-percent target set for 2013. Chinese authorities have so far refrained from initiating a massive stimulus program to lift the economy to allow leeway to proceed with structural reforms for long-term good. The areas Xi pointed to as needing more thorough research include the fostering of a more market-oriented mechanism, enhancing government efficiencies, boosting social harmony and innovation, safeguarding social justice, as well as improving the Communist Party's governance.