China's regional leaders are expected to join forces at a key meeting at Beidaihe next month in an attempt to force Beijing to further relax the tight-money policy.
Party secretaries, governors and mayors from the provinces and large cities will soon leave for the northern resort, the scene of annual brainstorming sessions.
Chinese sources said after spending a week or so resting, central and regional leaders will plan the coming year's policies in marathon conferences from about August 12.
So far, top leaders including Vice-Premier Zhu Rongji have insisted that the programme of 'macro-level adjustments and controls', a code word for the austerity regime, would persist in the foreseeable future.
And extra funds and credits have been made available only to a few hundred carefully selected large-scale state enterprises.
However, optimistic statements and figures released by People's Bank of China Governor Dai Xianglong and other officials, including the fact that the country had achieved 'soft landing', have given regional leaders fresh ammunition.