"Limiting real estate sales by speculative homebuyers can stimulate the rental market. The government should impose punitive measures on homes left vacant for a long time while diversifying the channel of investment so that capital will flow to other sectors rather than concentrate in the real estate industry."

CHEN DONGQI, deputy director of the Academy of Macroeconomic Research at the National Development and Reform Commission, speaking at a seminar about measures to curb housing price hikes, China Business View reported on Tuesday.