A top Chinese economic planner warned the mainland economy would face a tough year because of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US.
But Li Rongrong, Minister of the State Economic and Trade Commission, pledged to continue the Government's 'pro-active fiscal policy' to sustain high economic growth.
'Medium-term impact will be greater than near-term impact,' Mr Li said. 'We estimate that economic work for next year will be very difficult but at this stage no one can say for sure what the extent of the impact will be on China's economy.
'China will focus on spurring domestic demand to sustain economic growth, to further push market and industry structural reforms and to create jobs.
'We will spend most of our effort and resources in tapping the domestic market.' He added the Government would spend more on infrastructure projects and helping state-owned enterprises to upgrade their technology, but did not say how much money would be made available to sustain the economic momentum.
Chinese leaders have expressed hopes of achieving annual economic growth of at least seven per cent in the next decade.
