In fact, the NDRC released a three-year plan in August to boost the economy in northeast China. NDRC officials say reforms in State-Owned Enterprises will be crucial to the effort.

"The central government's document firstly mentioned that local governments should change their roles," said Yang Yinkai, Deputy Director, Dept. of NE Region Revitalization, NDRC.

"SOEs should make some breakthroughs and private companies should seek more development. To achieve this, we should optimize our policies and mechanisms, and break the bottlenecks."

"We will allow SOEs to sell some of their assets and use the revenue to cover reform costs," said Zhou Jianping, Director, Dept. of NE Region Revitalization, NDRC.

"Meanwhile, central government will also provide fiscal support. We have taken trials in Heilongjiang and Jilin. These can help SOEs to solve the problem of capital resources when they push reforms."