China’s economy grows 6.8pc in Q4, beats expectations

China's annual gross domestic product (GDP) grew 6.8 per cent in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2017 from a year earlier, better than expectations, official data showed on Thursday.

A Reuters poll had expected the GDP to expand 6.7 per cent in the fourth quarter, slowing from 6.8 per cent growth in the previous quarter.

The annual GDP of the country grew 6.9 per cent in 2017, beating the government’s target of around 6.5 per cent and quickening from 2016 growth of 6.7 per cent, reports Reuters.

Chinese policymakers have been trying to contain financial risks and slow an explosive build-up in debt without stunting economic growth.

The gross domestic product in Q4 grew 1.6 per cent quarter-on-quarter, compared with revised growth of 1.8 per cent in July-September, the National Bureau of Statistics said.

Analysts had expected fourth-quarter GDP would grow 1.6 per cent on a quarterly basis.