国内英语新闻:Chinese Vice Premier urges stepping up rental housing construction for low-income people

BEIJING, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang has urged stepping up government-subsidized rental housing construction for low-income residents.

Li made the remarks while attending a conference on gov't-subsidized housing projects in Beijing on Friday.

According to the conference, China plans to construct 3 million low-cost rental housing units, transform 2.8 million units of shanty towns, and renovate 1.2 million dilapidated rural houses this year.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (C) attends a symposium on affordable housing construction in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 17, 2010.

The task for this year is the most ambitious in recent years, Li said, urging various localities to adopt more vigorous measures to ensure the targets are met.

Li also urged unswervingly sticking to the regulation and control measures in the real estate market to curb speculation and promote the smooth and healthy development of the sector.