China's economy is expected to expand by 10.5 percent this year, while consumer prices are likely to rise 1.3 percent, the country's top planner was quoted as saying on Saturday.
Ma Kai, chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, told a work meeting he expected China's gross domestic product to top 20 trillion yuan ($2.56 trillion) in 2006, semi-official China News Service reported.
Ma had recently said China must focus on reducing too rapid investment, credit growth and trade surplus, factors that would boost the economy further versus 10.2 percent growth in 2005.
In 2005 China's GDP staged its third consecutive year of double-digit growth. Its economy grew 10.1 percent in 2004 and 10.0 percent in 2003. In 2005, the country's annual consumer price index rose 1.8 percent.
The central bank has raised interest rates twice and ordered three half-point increases in banks' required reserves since April as part of a campaign against a liquidity fuelled investment boom. Ma Kai saw annual economic growth averaging 7.5 percent over the next five years, official Xinhua news agency reported in October.