Expert: Chinese consumers to drive future global growth

One of Britain's leading economists said Chinese consumers will be the driving force of future global economic growth.

Jim O'Neill, chair of the international think tank Chatham House and former chief economist at Goldman Sachs, made the remarks in a speech on Wednesday at the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the second China-UK Economic and Trade Forum in London.

"What happens to the Chinese consumers is more important to China's future," O'Neill said.