IMF raises China’s growth forecast for 2017, 2018

BEIJING - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its forecast for China's economic growth in 2017 and 2018, citing a stronger-than-expected performance in the first half of the year and continuous policy support. In its latest World Economic Outlook, the IMF tips the Chinese economy to grow 6.8% this year and 6.5% next year, both 0.1% higher than July’s forecast.

The upward revision reflects "the stronger-than-expected outturn in the first half of the year underpinned by previous policy easing and supply-side reforms", the IMF said.

China's economy expanded 6.9% in the first half of this year, well above the Government's yearly target of 6.5%.

The IMF said its upward revision to the 2018 forecast mainly reflects an expectation that "authorities will maintain a sufficiently expansionary policy mix" to meet their target of doubling real gross domestic product (GDP) between 2010 and 2020.  www.webershandwick.cn (ATI).