China's central government is to dispatch special teams to inspect key regions and industries in an effort to force local officials to implement policies aimed at preventing economic overheating and rebalancing growth.

In a front-page editorial yesterday, the People's Daily newspaper, mouthpiece of the ruling party, told cadres they must carry out policy "relentlessly" - and that the cabinet would be sending out "united inspection groups" to ensure compliance.

The editorial, the newspaper's third on the importance of implementing economic policy in as many days, highlighted both the determination of leaders to tame the economy's wilder sectors and their concern that subordinates are not paying enough attention.

Debate has long raged within the government and among economists over whether the economy is at risk of overheating.

Last month, Wen Jiabao, the premier, tried to settle the debate by citing overheating as a pressing danger and demanding "forceful measures" to prevent it, including action to control land use, rein in investment and curb polluting industries.

Beijing hopes such measures will make growth sustainable, while allowing the economy to grow at a fast enough clip to employ the millions who join the urban workforce every year. - (Financial Times service)