New | China's leaders pledge 'targeted measures' as economic growth engines lose steam

China's leadership has pledged more targeted policy measures to sustain stable economic growth amid a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy.

The Politburo, the elite 25-member decision-making body of the Communist Party, also announced a plan to establish a new central task force to steer the party's united front efforts that manages relations with individuals and organisations that hold major influence in the nation but are not party members.

"[We] will carry out more targeted macro measures and take pre-adjustment measures in time to maintain stable growth," the Politburo said after a meeting chaired by President Xi Jinping.

It said China had yet to find new drivers of its economy at a time when the old ones were weakening.

"The economy is faced with relatively larger downward pressure," it said, adding that this was the result of structural problems.

The leaders also pledged to seek "innovative methods" in their macro economic management and adjustment, Xinhua reported on Thursday night.