President Xi Jinping will chair a leading group aimed at steering the country's overall reform, sending out a signal of his resolve to tackle the problems that have been plaguing China's reform.

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee decided to officially set up a group to lead the work to comprehensively deepen reform and appoint Xi as its head, according to a decision adopted by the top decision body on Monday.

The establishment of the group was first unveiled at the conclusion of the Third Plenum of the 18th CPC Central Committee in November, which released a raft of bold and sweeping reform measures.

The leading group will be in charge of "designing reform on an overall basis, arranging and coordinating reform, pushing forward reform as a whole, and supervising the implementation of reform plans," the Xinhua News Agency quoted the document released by the political bureau as saying.

It will research and decide major guidelines, policies and schemes for systematic reforms in economic, political, cultural, social and environmental sectors as well as the Party system, the document said.

Xu Yaotong, a professor with the Chinese Academy of Governance, told the Global Times that as 2014 will be a year of reform, the establishment of the group ahead of the New Year demonstrates the central leadership's resolve in pushing reform and serves as a boost to people's confidence in the change.

The detailed document, released after the Party plenum last month, raised over 300 reform measures in nearly every aspect of the country's governance, from letting the market play a "decisive" role in the economy to optimizing the structure of the military.

"There were doubts over whether the Party could match its words with actions. However, the appointment [of Xi] shows the central leadership hopes to deliver as many promises as possible," He Jun, a senior analyst with the Beijing-based consultancy Anbound Group, told the Global Times on Monday.

Xi's heading of the group is in line with the public's expectations, although there had been speculation that other senior leaders would assume the role.

Zhou Tianyong, a senior economist at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, told the Global Times that because Xi is the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, his chairing the group ensures the Party's firm grip on the new round of reform.

With the low-hanging fruits of reforms having mostly been picked over the past 35 years, the leadership has to confront more systemic problems, which have often been  resisted by vested interest groups, said analysts.

According to Zhou, government departments are always evasive toward reform, which is always aimed at curtailing their powers.

"Now with the Party pushing the reform, leaders of ministries or at the local level who decline to reform will be replaced," he said.

Xi, as the Party, State and military chief, has a better pool of resources to coordinate the overall reform, which always demands inter-department cooperation, He Jun said.

"As every party is reluctant to have its own piece of pie cut down, there should be a powerful man pushing forward the reform, which is compatible with the majority's interests," he said.

Monday's meeting didn't reveal the structure and other members of the group, but analysts say it is likely to include other members on the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and officials from key ministries.

Hong Kong media earlier speculated that Han Zheng, Shanghai Party chief, or Vice President Li Yuanchao may be appointed deputy head of the group.