Service sector in driving seat of growth, say experts

Helped by a robust service sector, China is expected to see 6.64 percent economic growth this year, but the sluggish private sector might influence the overall outlook, according to a report released by Xiamen University on Wednesday.

Following 6.7 percent growth in 2016, the economy might expand at a slower pace year-on-year starting from this year during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), but there is little likelihood of growth falling below the 6.5 to 7 percent target range set in the plan, according to the forecast released by the university's Center for Macroeconomic Research.

The consumer price index is expected to rise 2.15 percent year-on-year, up 0.15 percentage points compared to the previous year, and Producer Price Index is expected to reach 2.41 percent, up by 3.81 percentage points compared to 2016.