China says to raise deficit, boost spending next year

BEIJING

China will raise its deficit in order to boost spending next year, its finance minister said, according to state media, as Beijing looks to prop up its struggling economy.

The world's second-largest economy has for years battled sluggish domestic consumption, a persistent crisis in the property sector, and soaring government debt.

Beijing unveiled a slew of aggressive measures this year aimed at bolstering growth — cutting interest rates, canceling restrictions on homebuying, and easing the debt burden on local governments.

Economists have urged more direct fiscal stimulus to shore up domestic consumption and restore China's economy to full health.

Finance Minister Lan Fo'an said at a conference in Beijing on Dec. 24 that China would "increase the fiscal deficit ratio to boost spending intensity," according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Beijing would also focus more on improving livelihoods and promoting sluggish consumption, Lan said, and transfer payments to indebted local governments would be increased.

Beijing has long been reluctant to boost government spending to pull itself out of its economic malaise, fearful of piling on debt.

However, Beijing's leadership committed this month to a "moderately loose" monetary policy and a "more proactive" fiscal policy next year.

China is pushing for an official national growth target this year of around 5 percent, a goal President Xi Jinping has expressed confidence in achieving but which many economists believe it will narrowly miss.