Overheating concerns

Amid optimistic forecasts that the Chi- nese economy may have expanded by more than 11 percent in the first quarter, policymakers will most certainly take comfort in the country's growth figures that are scheduled for release later this week.

While the country's trade surplus shrank by about 80 percent over the same period last year, a double-digit GDP growth indicates that the country's fixed-asset investment and domestic consumption have together generated even more growth momentum in the first quarter of this year than they did in previous quarters, when the country was going all out to fight the worst global recession in decades.

By tapping into the huge potential of its domestic demand, China is well poised to sustain its stronger-than-expected economic recovery.