China's Economy Grows 9% in 2008

BEIJING, Jan. 22 -- China's gross domestic product (GDP) reached 30.0670 trillion yuan (4.4216 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2008, up 9 percent year on year, said the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Thursday.

    The growth was the slowest since 2001, when an annual rate of 8.3 percent was recorded.

    The economy continued its slowdown in the fourth quarter of last year as it's growth dropped to 6.8 percent, compared with 9.0percent in the third quarter, and 9.9 percent for the first three quarters.

    Ma Jiantang, director of the bureau, said the overall national economy maintained the good developing momentum of fast growth, stable prices, optimized structures and improved welfare.

    (Source: Xinhua)