Economic outlook brighter for 2016

A number of positive factors will gradually gain traction in 2016, although downward pressures on growth such as overcapacity, profit deceleration and rising nonprofit loans will persist, according to a research report from the People's Bank of China.

Ma Jun, chief economist at the central bank's research bureau, said a baseline forecast for real GDP growth in 2016 is 6.8 percent, slightly lower than the expectation of 6.9 percent for this year. For next year, the baseline CPI inflation forecast is 1.7 percent, he said.

Real estate investment will see a slow rebound, he added.