Two official think tanks have suggested China’s economy could grow by 6.8 percent this year, higher than the Government’s target of 6.5 percent, the Government-run Xinhua news agency reports.

The report cites data from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences that has forecast growth of 6.8 percent and 6.7 percent in the third quarter and fourth quarter of this year. Although China’s economy expanded at 6.9 percent in the first half of this year, the academy sees investment, consumption and exports slowing in the second half.

The State Information Center predicts second half growth will ease to around 6.7 percent. “The economy will maintain the trend of stabilisation with sound momentum,” it says.