The nation will continue to strengthen macroeconomic regulation next year to promote sound and rapid economic growth, a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee said yesterday.

The meeting, presided by President Hu Jintao, said although the country has made headway in maintaining stable economic growth, problems exist.

The top priority next year will be to prevent relatively fast economic growth from overheating and stop structural price rises from evolving into entrenched inflation.