China can achieve 6.5-7% GDP growth in 2016: state adviser

[BEIJING] China may be able to achieve 6.5 to 7 per cent GDP growth in 2016 if it drives ahead with "supply side reform", the official news agency Xinhua quoted a top state advisor as saying on Thursday.

Li Wei, president of the State Council's Development Research Centre, made the comment at a national policy consultation work conference, Xinhua said.

In order to achieve stable economic growth, it is important that China balances its supply and demand, Li said.

China has pledged to push forward "supply side reform" to help generate new growth engines, while tackling property inventories and overcapacity in heavy industries including steel and coal.

China's economy has been slowing. For 2015, China reported growth of 6.9 per cent.

REUTERS