BEIJING - China will maintain its prudent monetary policy and proactive fiscal policy in 2012, according to the annual central economic work conference that closed on Wednesday.

The main theme of next year's economic and social development will be "making progress while maintaining stability," according to a statement issued after the conference.

The country will ensure that macroeconomic regulation policies and overall consumer prices remain "basically stable," and will guarantee the steady growth of the economy and maintain social stability, according to the statement.

China will unswervingly maintain its regulation policies on property market next year to make housing prices return to a reasonable level.

The country will speed up the construction of ordinary commercial residential housing to increase effective supply and promote the healthy development of the property market, according to the statement.