China’s growth to pick up at 7.9% this year

Growth trend: Employees working on a drilling machine assembly line at a factory in northern China’s Hebei province. Output in China is estimated to have rebounded last year at a faster-than-expected clip, with particular support from infrastructure spending. — AFP

WASHINGTON: China’s economy is expected to expand by 7.9% in 2021, nearly double the global growth rate predicted for the year, the World Bank said in its forecast on Tuesday.

“Growth in China is projected to accelerate to 7.9% this year – one percentage point above the June forecast – reflecting the release of pent-up demand and a quicker-than-expected resumption of production and exports, ” the 189-member global lender said in a statement at the release of the 2021 Global Economic Prospects.