Minimum growth rate set at 7 percent

Key economic indicators point to sound fundamentals, official says

For the first time since the beginning of China's complex economic transition, a government official said on Monday the minimum level of annual economic growth acceptable to the central government is 7 percent.

But based on recent economic data, for August in particular, China is almost certain to be able to achieve growth no lower than 7.5 percent in 2013, Yang Shubing, a senior official at the National Policy Research Office of the State Council, said at a news briefing.