BEIJING - Chinese stocks continued to fall for the fifth consecutive trading day on Wednesday with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closing down 0.86 percent, or 19.34 points, to 2,229.25.

The Shenzhen Component Index dropped 1.06 percent, or 97.85 points to finish at 9,093.03.

China's annual central economic work conference closed on Wednesday, which set the main theme of next year's economic and social development as "making progress while maintaining stability."