Growth must be at least 6.5%, economists say

China must prevent its economic growth from falling below 6.5 percent this year, leading economists said on Wednesday.

They were speaking ahead of the opening of the annual meetings of the country's top legislature and political advisory body this week.

Jia Kang, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, said the nation's economy is likely to bottom out at about 6.5 percent this year before stabilizing.