China state planner upbeat on economy, watching volatile stock market

Beijing

CHINA'S top economic planner said on Tuesday that it was optimistic on the outlook for the economy in the second half of 2015, but was paying close attention to volatility in the country's stock markets.

Improved performance in the first half of the year boded well for the economy but growth momentum is still "insufficient", Li Pumin, secretary general of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), told a news conference.

"Some firms still face operational difficulties while there is relatively big pressure on fiscal revenues (growth) and the job market," said Mr Li. "There is also an outstanding issue that the flow of c…