BEIJING -- China's economy surged 6.9 percent in the first half of the year, fueled by consumer spending and trade, the country's National Bureau of Statistics said Monday. The economy grew by 6.9 percent in the second quarter, the same pace as in the first quarter. The Chinese government has set an economic growth target this year of about 6.5 percent "or higher if possible," the lowest economic growth target in 25 years. The International Monetary Fund last month raised its forecast for China's economic growth this year to 6.7 percent. Last year, China's economy grew by 6.7 percent, which outpaced many nations but marked the country's slowest growth in more than a quarter of a century.

Source: The China Post July 17, 2017 06:45 UTC