Quotable

"From a long-term perspective, the reform package offered by the Third Plenum looks positive for China's economy. But in the short-term, the consequences are rather uncertain."

Chen Xikang, a researcher with the Center for Forecasting Science under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, commenting on the impact of reforms on the Chinese economy. According to experts, China's growth prospects this year are overshadowed by unprecedented uncertainties, since reform dividends are unlikely to materialize quickly. Existing downward pressure and the uncertain global outlook are other uncertainties, they say.

"We will make more efforts to balance trade, consumption and investment to realize a healthy economic development model."

Zhu Xiaodan, governor of Guangdong province, commenting on the trade prospects for the province this year. Guangdong, a longtime economic and export powerhouse in southern China, expects its total trade to rise only 1 percent this year.

"The 7.7 percent growth in GDP has brought more concern than joy, because last year's rise was largely driven by investment."

Li Xunlei, chief economist of securities firm Haitong Securities Co, saying that investment-driven growth cannot be sustained indefinitely in China. Li says deleveraging would remain a major concern for China and consequently lead to slower GDP growth of 7 to 7.2 percent this year.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 01/24/2014 page18)