Senior economist proposes targeted measures to further boost economy

China's economy is likely to get back on track by the end of this year if pivotal problems concerning real estate, local government debt, and consumption can be addressed, says one of China's top economists and political advisers.

In an exclusive interview with China Daily, Li Daokui, director of the Academic Center for Chinese Economic Practice and Thinking at Tsinghua University, said that the country's current economic predicament is down to the fact that the economy is "operating below its potential growth speed", leading to subdued market demand and expectations from both companies and residents.

"To relieve the problem, real estate problems must be alleviated," said Li, who is also editor-in-chief of The Journal of Government and Economics. "The authorities should work at a fast pace, just like that during the financial crisis period, to help developers deal with financial shortages, including offering sufficient loans."

Meanwhile, he advocated for a "complete lifting" of house purchase restrictions across the country, barring only a few top-tier cities with limited housing supply, to unleash housing demand.

On the other hand, Li said that many local governments have engaged in large-scale construction over the past decades and have borrowed a significant amount of money.

"The central government can extend such a debt payment to 50, 60, or even 70 years and set a lower interest rate," he observed. "If the burden on local governments cannot be lightened, our economic vitality will not recover."

In addition to long-term efforts, Li pointed out that more "substantial" financial support should be given to consumers to boost their confidence for bold consumption in the short term.

"The subsidy is, for example, if consumers buy a computer, they can get a 10 percent rebate from the government, and the manufacturers can grant another percentage of subsidy," he explained.

Li also said that more effort should also be made to address the concerns of ordinary people, including new urban residents and families with newborns.