China will post faster growth rate than last year, economist says

China's annual economic growth rate in 2025 will "for sure be faster than that of last year", said a senior economist, stressing that there is great possibility for the government to roll out additional policy support within this year.

"The year 2025 will be the year of turning around the Chinese economy, with a pickup in GDP growth rate," said Li Daokui, director of Tsinghua University's Academic Center for Chinese Economic Practice and Thinking, on Thursday.

After the first quarter, the period around early April will be a crucial observation point for assessing the performance of consumption, prices, the property market, and the stock market, among others, Li said.

The decision to introduce additional policy support will largely depend on the trajectory of these crucial economic indicators, Li said, stressing that policymakers still have a diverse range of policy tools at their disposal.

Li noted that there is significant room for increasing the issuance of government bonds, which currently account for only 25 percent of the nation's GDP - one of the lowest levels among major economies.

"I believe that in the course of this year, we might also see a further loosening of the home-buying restrictions in first-tier cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Shenzhen in Guangdong province," Li said.

wangkeju@chinadaily.com.cn