Commissioner Li Deshui of the National Bureau of Statistics predicted in Beijing Tuesday that China's economy will grow above 7 percent year-on-year in 2004.

The economy is expected to expand fairly fast in the first quarter, backed by continued investment growth, he told a press conference held by the Information Office of the State Council.

Consumer demand will be stronger and export growth is likely to slow down due to the change in the country's tax rebate policy and  worldwide trade protectionism, he said.
 
(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2004)