Top Chinese Leaders' Economic Meeting Eases Stress on Growth Target

(Beijing) — Chinese leaders at a key economic policy meeting weakened their previous emphasis on targeting growth, suggesting an aggressive stimulus is unlikely as Beijing stresses social stability and reform ahead of a major leadership reshuffle next fall.

The annual meeting Friday, presided over by President Xi Jinping and attended by members of the Communist Party's all-powerful Politburo, adhered to the usual goal of "seeking progress while maintaining stability." But it stopped short of adding the phrase "keeping economic operation in a proper range," as it did last year.