Beijing reports 6.9% GDP growth in 2015

BEIJING - Beijing's GDP growth was 6.9 percent in 2015 and it will maintain steady growth for the next year, the statistics bureau announced Thursday.

Beijing's GDP was about 2.29 trillion yuan ($350 billion) in 2015 and its growth was 0.4 percent lower than in 2014.

"Although growth is among the slowest posted during the last five years, Beijing's economy has maintained quality growth, with growth in company revenue, people's income, tax revenue and improvement of the environment," said Xia Qinfang, spokesperson with the bureau.

The service industry has seen particularly fast growth, at 23.8 percent from January to November. The finance, information, science and technology sectors have seen double digit growth, statistics show.

Per capita disposable income for Beijing residents was 48,458 yuan in 2015, up 8.9 percent year on year.

In the next year, Beijing will continue to face a complex economic situation, Xia said, and the coming period will be critical for Beijing's economic restructuring. It faces grand tasks to address urban ills and push forward the relocation plans to Tianjin and Hebei.

Nevertheless, Beijing will maintain steady development for the next year, Xia said.