China’s President Xi Jinping has called for advancing reforms in all sectors, Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

Mr Xi made the remarks during a meeting of China’s leading group for overall reform. The meeting was held on Monday.

According to a statement issued after the meeting and quoted by Xinhua, the group called for overall reforms in major sectors including state-owned enterprises, the financial and taxation systems and in the science and technology innovation system. China’s opening up policy and its cultural and education system were also earmarked for reform, the statement added.

The group approved a total of seven documents at the meeting. Among those documents were guidelines to enhance government transparency, Xinhua added.

In his New Year’s Eve speech, Mr Xi had already emphasised the need to press ahead with political and economic reforms in 2016. He said at the time the country needed to “lay a solid foundation for the decisive stage in building China into a moderately prosperous society”.