Media Watch: Xinhua, People's Daily in Rare Tussle, over Rate Cuts

(Beijing) – Xinhua News Agency and People's Daily have crossed swords over who has more faith in policymakers' determination to push through economic reforms and whether it is fine to cut interest rates, a rare public display of friction for the state media outlets.

Fears that China is falling short of the government's growth target for this year and calls for strong stimulating policies such as reducing interest rates have gained momentum, after August's weak economic data was published, an article published by Xinhua's website said on September 16.