With the slowdown in the Chinese economy, positive trends - Gosstat China 

 2009-04-16 20:45 Xinhua

Beijing, April 16 / Xinhua / - With the slowdown that occurred in the first quarter of 2009, the Chinese economy showed some positive trends. In general, the economic situation was better than expected, said today the official representative of the State Statistical Bureau of China Li Syaochao.

According to the catechumens of the data in January - March, the rate of growth of the Chinese economy grew by 6.1 percent, which is 4.5 percentage points lower compared with the corresponding period in 2008 and 0.7 points below the October - December. According to preliminary calculations, the country's GDP reached 6.5745 trillion yuan / 1 am. U.S. - 6.8 yuan /, with an increase in the agricultural sector, industry and services respectively 3,5, 5,3 and 7,4 percent - up to 470 billion, and 3.1968 trillion yuan, 2.9077 trillion.

Among the positive trends Li Syaochao allocated primarily a good start, taken in agricultural production: evaluation Gosstata, cultivated areas in the current year will exceed 108 million hectares, in other words, within 6 years is their steady increase.

The representative also noted Gosstata unfolding growth of value added in industrial enterprises / January - February - to 3.8 percent in March - at 8.3 percent / expansion of investment in fixed assets / to 28.8 percent in the first quarter /, the growth of retail trade in consumer goods / in 15.9 percent of net price factors.

As the main problems of the economy, Lee Syaochao described a significant reduction in demand for Chinese exports, worsening the economic performance of businesses, reduction of financial income in the country's budget, additional difficulties in employment and a risk of economic recession.