Curbing the real estate price boom and promote its healthy development is an important task for this year's macroeconomic controls, said Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan Monday.

Zeng said in recent years China's real estate growth played an active role in promoting economic growth, urbanization and "improving people's livelihood." However, regional and structural problems remain in the market, such as rocketing prices, over-demanding and large-scale construction. Tackling these problems will prevent financial risk and promote the stable development of national economy.

Zeng said the government should use economic measures to stabilize the price of real estate, balancing the market supply and demand. These measures include utilizing economic leverage to curb speculation, increasing supply of middle and low price houses and establishing more transparent market information system.

(Xinhua News Agency April 26, 2005)