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BEIJING: China's economy grew 9.5 percent in the first quarter, the same rate as for all of 2004 and compared to 9.7 percent in the same period last year, the National Bureau of Statistics announced. Economic output by value totalled 3.13 trillion yuan (379 billion dollars) in the three months to March, the NBS said.
Fixed asset investment, which reflects government spending on infrastructure, increased 22.8 percent in the first quarter, just slightly slower than the 25.8 percent growth rate for 2004, according to the figures.
"The total size of investment is too large. Shortages of coal, electricity, petroleum and transportation are still prominent," NBS spokesman Zheng Jingpin said, warning of continuing pressure on resources to fuel the rapidly expanding economy.
Zheng indicated China still faced difficulties trying to cool down the economy to prevent it from overheating.
"The price for some upstream products rose by a bigger margin than desired and the task of macro-economic regulation is still arduous," he said.
"Macro-economic regulation and control should be meticulously implemented in order to consolidate and strengthen the good momentum of national economic performance."