国内英语新闻:Chinese vice premier urges implementation of affordable housing construction plan

CHANGZHOU, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday called for more favorable policies to encourage the construction of affordable housing.

Li made the remarks at a meeting on affordable housing held in Changzhou city of east China's Jiangsu Province.

He reiterated that China would complete construction of 5.8 million units of affordable housing, including low-rent housing, public rental housing and resettlement housing for relocated residents from redeveloped urban shanty towns.

In May, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development signed an agreement with local governments nationwide to build 5.8 million units of affordable housing.

"Meanwhile, measures should be taken to increase the supply of commercial housing to meet people's reasonable needs of housing consumption," he said.

He said local governments should adopt a realistic approach to affordable housing construction and plans should be based upon local needs.

For populous cities, construction should focus on public rental housing that provides homes for low- and medium-income families, newly-employed school graduates and migrant workers, he said.