China GDP growth to exceed 7%

China GDP growth to exceed 7%

BEIJING (DPA): A top Chinese economic official expressed confidence that China would surpass this year's 7 percent economic growth target and outlined the major economic tasks for the year 2000, the official China Securities newspaper reported on Monday.

The nine measures aim primarily at stimulating exports, increasing investment and boosting lagging consumption, the paper quoted Zeng Peiyan, head of the State Development Planning Commission under the State Council, as saying.

Beijing will intensify the reform of ailing state-owned enterprises, adjust the economic structure to promote science and technology and expand domestic demand by taking advantage of the recent Sino-U.S. trade agreement toward China's long-sought accession to the World Trade Organization, Zeng said.

Increases are planned for fixed asset investments, including infrastructure, industrial technology upgrades and housing construction. The plan also targets economic reforms in the lagging western region.