国内英语新闻:Chinese Vice Premier urges massive construction of affordable housing in coming years

NINGBO, Zhejiang, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang called for building affordable housing on a massive scale in the next few years.

Li made the remarks during a two-day inspection tour to Ningbo in east China's Zhejiang Province, which ended Tuesday.

Li said the country's affordable-housing policy would continue in the upcoming years so as to substantially raise the percentage of affordable housing in the real-estate market.

Li urged local governments to support such projects with additional funding and land distribution.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R, Front) shakes hands with a worker at a construction site in Haishu District of Ningbo City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec. 7, 2010. Li called for building affordable housing on a massive scale in the next few years during a two-day inspection tour to Ningbo.

Li also called on authorities to ensure transparency and fairness in the distribution process, to benefit those in real need.

The Chinese government introduced various policies to cool down the real-estate market this year.

Li stressed the need to discourage house purchases that are for the purpose of investment and speculation, and to increase the supply of affordable housing.