Real estate should be a fundamental, but not a pillar, industry in China, the Shanghai Securities News reported Wednesday, citing Yun Xiaosu, vice minister of the Ministry of Land and Resources.

Chinese government has rolled out a series of measures to curb skyrocketing housing prices since April. China’s real estate prices in 70 major cities rose at a slower pace since April. However, 70 percent of Chinese residents believe home prices are too high, according to a report released by the People’s Bank of China.

The ministry will prioritize land supply for building 10 million social security housing projects next year, the report quoted a source close to the ministry as saying. A timetable for managing idle land lots has also been set.

The ministry ordered that provincial land and resources regulators publish information about land lots which have been idle for government-related reasons, prior to Jan 20. The ministry itself will also release information of land lots which have been idle for company-related reasons.

A total of 200 land lots, covering an area of 1,000 hectares were idle for company-related reasons and 500 land lots, covering an area of 2000 hectares were idle for government-related reasons at the end of 2009, according to statistics.