Sound bites

Editor's note: On Wednesday, the National Bureau of Statistics issued key economic data for the first half of this year. We share comments from leading economists.

Overall, first-half data were better than expected. The recovery has been supported by investment in infrastructure construction and boosted by targeted stimulus and pro-growth monetary policies since May.

While sequential growth is expected to maintain strong momentum, a high base of comparison may impact year-on-year growth in the third quarter.