China's economy is expected to grow 11.5 percent this year,
Premier Wen Jiabao said yesterday.
Wen, in Singapore on a four-day official visit and to attend a
series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings, made the
forecast when meeting embassy staff and representatives of Chinese
entrepreneurs and students.
China has enjoyed 9 percent year-on-year growth for 30
consecutive years while growth surpassed 10 percent in the past
five years, he noted.
But he stressed that the government must prevent the economy
from overheating; and make sure that structural price rises do not
move toward high inflation.
"Only by achieving that can we enable the economy to grow in a
stable and healthy manner," he said.
The consumer price index reached a decade-high 6.5 percent last
month, matching the peak in August, with prices of foodstuffs
rising 17 percent year-on-year.
Wen also called for efforts to transform the economic
development mode to emphasize efficiency.
"An important task for us is to continue our efforts in energy
conservation and pollution reduction."
(
China Daily November 21, 2007)
