CHINA has never said the economy absolutely must grow 7 percent this year, Premier Li Keqiang said in comments reported by the government late Saturday, adding that he had faith in the country’s ability to overcome its economic difficulties.

    China’s economy in the July-to-September quarter grew 6.9 percent from a year earlier, data showed last week, dipping below 7 percent for the first time since the global financial crisis.

    Speaking at the Central Party School, which trains rising officials, Li said that China’s economic achievements had been not easy to come by and that the difficulties ahead should not be underestimated.

    “We have never said that we should defend to the death any goal, but that the economy should operate within a reasonable range,” the Central Government paraphrased Li as saying in a statement released on its website.

    China’s economic growth has not been bad over the last year considering the problems in the global economy, he added.

    There are reasons for optimism going forward, such as rising employment, more spending on tourism and a fast growing service sector, Li said.(SD-Agencies)