Chinese economy posts slowest growth in 13 yrs, up 7.8% in Q4

Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that the growth rate, the weakest expansion in 13 years, was down from 9.3 per cent in 2011 and 10.4 per cent in 2010.

The economy's fourth-quarter growth quickened to 7.9 per cent on government pro-growth measures. The rate ended a seven-straight-quarter slowdown, according to the data.

In 2012, the gross domestic product reached 51.93 trillion yuan (USD 8.28 trillion).

The growth rate, however, is still marginally higher than the 7.5 per cent target fixed by the government.

The Chinese economy mainly driven by the exports has missed its double-digit growth posting 9.3 per cent, the data showed.

The GDP for 2011 stood at 47.29 trillion yuan (USD 7.45 trillion).

There were apprehensions whether the GDP would miss the official target when it posted 7.4 per cent growth in the third quarter this year, but it picked up in the last three months mainly driven by Christmas and New Year sales in the last three months of the year.

Analysts said stimulus measures introduced by the Chinese government has averted further slowdown.

Government stimulus measures introduced since early 2012 have produced results, a state run Xinhua news agency report said.

"They have helped reverse the slowdown and stabilise the growth," Wang Jun, an economist at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, one elite think-tank in Beijing said.

GDP figures headed a string of other encouraging

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