Workhorse adverb in policy and economic news. Stock collocations: 稳步推进 (advance steadily), 稳步提升 (rise steadily), 稳步增长 (grow steadily), 稳步发展 (develop steadily). Chinese government communications love it because it implies 'no surprises, no shocks'.
memory
稳 'stable' + 步 'step' → 'stable steps'. Picture a careful, even gait.
