Industrial output rises 6.1% during May

Analysts hopeful of better performance in second quarter

Stabilizing levels of industrial production in May could help drive China's economic growth toward a more solid second quarter, according to leading economists.

They were reacting to economic data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Thursday which reversed some previously pessimistic views that had forecast GDP growth to drop below the full-year's target of 7 percent from April to June.