The Chinese economy is likely to grow by between 6.6 percent and 6.8 percent this year, said a think tank that reports to the State Council.

According to a blue book published on Tuesday by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences – quoted by Shanghai Securities News – conditions remain in place this year to enable continuous growth in the Chinese economy. This is the case despite some downward pressures.

In the first quarter of this year, the Chinese economy expanded 6.7 percent from the prior-year period.

The Chinese Government said in March the target range for growth this year was between 6.5 percent and 7 percent. The economy expanded by 6.9 percent last year, the slowest pace in 25 years.