Nation's GDP to grow at 8.7% in 2006: expert

A noted economist has predicted China's export is sure to decline in 2006, which will slow down the country's GDP growth to a moderate 8.7 percent.

"The growth momentum is still there because China is in transition from agricultural to industrial society —— a period for rapid economic growth," said Zhao Xiao, a leading researcher for macro strategies with the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council.

Against a favorable backdrop of domestic and international settings, Zhao said China's economy will continue to grow next year with continued investment and consumption rises and robust domestic demand that will offset its export decline