GDP data show continued expansion

China's economy expanded at a faster-than-expected 6.9 percent year-on-year in the second quarter and economists said the trend of stable growth is set to continue into the second half of 2017, paving the way for the country to strengthen reforms.

The economy, as measured by the gross domestic product, was unchanged from the first quarter and has remained in the 6.7 to 6.9 percent range for eight consecutive months, according to data released on Monday by the National Bureau of Statistics. GDP growth accelerated to 1.7 percent in the second quarter, up from 1.3 percent in the first quarter.

Key indicators, such as industrial output, retail sales and fixed-asset investment, all were at high levels in the second quarter, the NBS said. Real estate investment, a key driving force of growth, increased by 8.5 percent in the first half of this year, slightly down from the first quarter. "Real estate investment, together with infrastructure investment, remained brisk and contributed to the strong growth in the second quarter," said Yu Yongding, an economist with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.