China has raised its estimate for economic growth in 2005 to 9.8 percent. That is an increase of .4 percent from the government's previous figure.
The new number was released Sunday by Ou Xinqian, vice minister of China's National Development and Reform Commission. The official Xinhua News Agency says the Commission adjusted its growth estimate because recent data shows China's economy in 2004 was much bigger than previously thought.
Last month, the government raised its national output figure for 2004 by 16.8 percent over the original estimate. Officials said service industries accounted for most of the revision.
The new growth estimate from Mr. Ou is the latest in a series of economic data released by Chinese officials. China's National Bureau of Statistics is expected to announce the final figures for 2005 in the coming weeks.
Some information for this report provided by AFP.