Experts' take on 7% GDP growth

Duncan Freeman, a research fellow at Brussels Institute of Contemporary China Studies

Duncan Freeman, a research fellow at Brussels Institute of Contemporary China Studies

For the Chinese government the key issue should not be short-term growth rates but long-term reform policies to deal with underlying problems. Domestic factors such as the weakness of the real estate sector will make it difficult for China to maintain strong growth, and the poor performance of many major foreign markets will limit external demand.