Growth forecast to remain solid this year

The Chinese economy is forecast to see solid growth in the second half of the year, bolstered by buoyant consumption, the nation's top economic regulator said. The prediction is expected to soothe concerns about the escalating trade dispute with the United States.

"In the first six months, consumption retained growth momentum and has played a key role in supporting economic growth as consumption has become a key element of the nation's rebalancing act," Liu Yunan, a senior official with the National Development and Reform Commission, said on Thursday.

Consumption contributed 78.5 percent of total economic growth in the first half, up by 14.2 percentage points compared with the same period last year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.