Chinese vice-premier stresses fiscal policy, 'three tough battles'

BEIJING - Chinese Vice-Premier Han Zheng has called for efforts to implement proactive fiscal policy and win the "three tough battles" of preventing financial risks, reducing poverty and tackling pollution.

Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection of the Ministry of Finance on Thursday.

Han urged the ministry to better implement the proactive fiscal policy as well as measures to cut taxes and fees, and accelerate budget spending to ensure stable economic development.

Efforts should be taken to defuse risks from local government debt, enhance financial input in targeted poverty reduction and pollution control, and make the use of funds more efficient, he said.

The vice-premier stressed efforts to push forward supply-side structural reform, promote innovation-driven development and high-quality development as well as ensure people's livelihood.

The ministry should also move forward reform of the financial and taxation system, he said.