Economist sanguine on GDP target

Expert: 'Economy began stabilizing in the fourth quarter last year'

China's economy is showing signs of strengthening recovery momentum thanks to a raft of supportive policies and structural shifts, while further progress will hinge on reinforcing domestic demand and enhancing targeted policy execution, said a renowned economist.

Liu Qiao, dean of Peking University's Guanghua School of Management, said in an exclusive interview with China Daily that he was "relatively confident that China will likely hit its around 5 percent growth target this year".

"The economy began stabilizing in the fourth quarter last year, and the upward momentum has been gaining strength," Liu said, attributing the rebound to a combination of proactive fiscal policy, moderately accommodative monetary policy, and policy tools focused on stimulating demand and consumption.