Domestic consumption remains key driver

China's domestic consumption has remained a strong contributor to the economy, helping drive it as the country has undergone economic restructuring in recent years - but last year it flagged, according to the latest official statistics released in Beijing on Friday.

Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that in 2016, domestic consumption contributed 64.6 percent to growth in GDP, dipping 1.8 percentage points from a year ago.

From 2012 to 2014, consumption contributed around 50 percent to GDP growth, and the rising ratio has indicated a solid growth in consumer spending and improvement in industrial structures, analysts said.