Good year-end 'to secure 7.5% growth target'

As positive economic factors are likely to emerge in the second half of this year, the 7.5 percent growth target set by the government will be met, scholars at the nation's top economic planning agency said on Sunday.

"The positive factors will build up as time goes by. The economy will become better in the second half of this year, and guarantee the realization of the target for the whole year," said Song Li, deputy director of the Institute of Economic Research under the National Development and Reform Commission.

His remark came as some economists have become increasingly doubtful whether China could achieve the 7.5 percent GDP growth set in the Government Work Report. China faces several challenges, including massive excess capacity in some industries, mounting local government debt, slowing growth in property prices and lurking risks in the financial sector.