BEIJING, Sept 4 Reuters Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on Monday called for putting the country39;s affordable housing under strict closed management and prohibiting it from being listed for trading, in a bid to help shore up the longterm supply of lowcost homes.

Beijing has been taking steps to increase the supply of affordable housing in recent years as high housing costs in major cities shut out many young buyers.

An official at the Ministry of Housing and UrbanRural Development said last year that China would add 6.5 million new lowcost rental units in 40 major cities in 20212025.

But the situation has become more acute as a weakening economy hurts job prospects and incomes, undermining the ability of ordinary people to fund home purchases.

The supply of lowcost housing has also been eroded by sales of such homes after a few years when they are allowed to be listed for sale in resale markets.

The planning and construction of affordable housing help alleviate housing difficulties in big cities and boost investment and consumption, Vice Premier He told a conference in Beijing.

Describing the construction of affordable housing as a difficult and complex systematic project, He urged strict management and cost control while maintaining a reasonable pace of construction, according to Xinhua.

He also stressed the need for a fair and just distribution mechanism, so that lowcost houses can be allocated with small profit to groups including lowwage earners.

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