13 Nov 2013

China's leaders promise bigger role for free market

2:27 pm on 13 November 2013

Chinese leaders have unveiled a series of reforms aimed at overhauling its economy over the next decade.

In a statement issued after a closed-door summit, they promised the free market will play a bigger role. But exactly what the reforms will look like remains uncertain.

Whilst China has been growing at a spectacular pace for the past three decades, there have been signs of strain lately and leaders are hoping greater reliance on markets will help.

NSBO investment bank China head researcher Miranda Carr says that while it is short in detail, the communique could herald profound change in China.

Ms Carr says it will be difficult to impose the reforms on local governments and state-owned enterprises such as telecommunications, oil and gas industries.