Central bank upbeat on economic growth

The central bank said on Friday that economic growth will remain strong this year, with gross domestic product (GDP) growing 10.8 percent on 2006.

It said GDP growth in the first half of this year will be 11 percent.

The consumer price index (CPI), a major gauge of inflation, will be 3.2 percent, crossing the warning line of 3 percent set by the central bank, according to its report published in the China Securities Journal. Inflation will be 3 percent in the first six months.