"Our country's future trade surplus growth is expected to slow but will remain a relatively high level," the People's Bank of China said in its fourth quarter monetary policy report.

The central bank said that export growth will likely be slower than last year due to a world economic slowdown and a series of domestic policy adjustments.

But it added in its report posted on its website that, given the domestic economic environment as well as the increasing strength of China's industries in the export market, it will be to difficult to expand imports.

China's trade surplus rose 74 percent last year to 177.47 billion dollars and bringing its rapid growth under control has become the focus of the government's work this year.

The central bank also said that the availability of capital and domestic price reform of resources are stoking inflationary pressures.

It noted that a fourth quarter household survey issued at the end of last year showed consumer inflation expectations at their highest level in the survey's eight-year history.

"The risk of rising prices is increasing and price stability faces potential pressure," it said.

Noting that the foundation for slowing credit and investment growth is not solid, the bank said it will "effectively adjust liquidity ... to achieve reasonable money and credit growth as well as stable money market rates."

It said that it will use a combination of open market operations and commercial bank reserve requirement increases to tackle liquidity levels in the banking system.

The central bank also warned that corporate profit growth is sustaining investment demand and said that "investment faces pressure to rebound."

The bank said it will "strictly control the excessively fast growth of foreign debt and enhance management of capital inflows and trade credit."