China's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2003 hit 11.694 trillion yuan (US$1.414 trillion), up 9.1 percent over the previous year, the National Bureau of Statistics said Tuesday.

The GDP rise represented the highest growth since 1997, according to preliminary estimation and evaluation, Li Deshui, director of China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said at a press conference held by the Information Office of the State Council on January 20.

The per capita GDP reached a record US$1,090, suggesting that China's economic development has entered a new era, Li said. 

The achievement was a hard-won successful one after the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory epidemic and frequent natural disasters, he said.

In terms of different industries, the value-added of the primary industry was 1724.7 billion yuan, up 2.5 percent, or 0.4 percentage point lower than the growth of the previous year.

The value-added of the secondary industy was 6177.8 billion yuan, up 12.5 percent, or 2.7 percentage point higher than the year before.

The tertiary industry stood at 3766.9 billion yuan, up 6.7 percent, or 0.8 percentage point lower than the previous year.

In terms of different quarters, GDP in the first quarter was up 9.9 percent, the second 6.7 percent, the third 9.6 percent and the fouth 9.9 percent respectively.

The country's consumer price index (CPI) increased by 1.2 percent in 2003, Li said, adding that: "There was no severe inflation in China."

(China Daily January 20, 2004)