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.