Investors watch China’s ‘two sessions’ for clues on property overhaul
China signals shift from debt-driven housing growth, but sweeping stimulus seen as unlikely
Investors and policy watchers will be looking to this week’s meetings of China’s national legislature and top political advisory body – also known as the “two sessions” – for signals on whether Beijing will advance efforts to reshape the country’s embattled property sector.
Calls to “accelerate the development of a new model for real estate” had featured prominently in government work reports delivered at recent local-level “two sessions” across provinces and cities, according to research compiled by the China Index Academy.
The think tank said its review of local policy priorities offered an early indication of the themes likely to surface at this year’s national meetings.
The proposed shift – first raised two years ago – marks a departure from the traditional “high debt, high leverage, high turnover” model that fuelled two decades of rapid expansion but left developers dangerously exposed when liquidity tightened.
Instead, officials were signalling a more sustainable, “dual-track” system that emphasised higher-quality commercial housing alongside a larger role for government-backed affordable homes, analysts said, citing statements issued after high-level policy meetings.