Effect of crisis 'worse than expected'

The effect of the global financial tsunami on China "is worse than expected".

Premier Wen Jiabao was quoted as saying so by National Bureau of Statistics Director Ma Jiantang when he briefed his staff on Tuesday.

It is the first time the premier's personal evaluation of the situation was made public after the central government announced last Sunday a 4 trillion yuan ($586 billion) stimulus package to boost the economy.