SHANGHAI (REUTERS) - China's finance minister, Lou Jiwei, said he expects the country's economic growth for 2013 to come in at 7 per cent, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Friday.
"Despite the slowdown of China's economic growth rate, the structural reform is paying off," Xinhua quoted Mr Lou as saying on the sidelines of the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Washington.
Mr Lou added the 7-per cent goal should not be considered as the bottom line, Xinhua said.
Last month, Vice President Li Yuanchao said China will be able to maintain a 7 per cent economic growth rate in the future.