China reiterates prudent monetary policy

BEIJING - The State Council, or China's cabinet, on Friday reiterated that it will maintain a prudent monetary policy to support economic restructuring, warding off pressure from commercial lenders for a policy loosening amid current interbank liquidity squeeze.

Still, the State Council said in a guideline issued for the financial sector that the country will keep credit growth at a "reasonable level".

The statement vowed to strike a balance between stabilizing economic growth, adjusting the economic structure, stemming consumer inflation and guarding against financial risks.

According to the guideline, the government will use quantitative and pricing monetary policy tools to increase the money velocity and ensure that funds are used more efficiently.

The central bank will also help financial institutions ensure that credit is available for the advanced manufacturing and information technology sectors, as well as labor-intensive industries, the guideline said.