GUANGZHOU -- China must face squarely the difficulties and challenges and work for the best in its economic work, the new helmsman of the nation's ruling party Xi Jinping has said.

Difficulties and challenges as well as advantages and positive factors should be taken into account to promote the healthy economic growth in a solid way, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said at a meeting held with government officials and entrepreneurs in South China's Guangdong province on Sunday.