China: The world's second largest economy grew 6.7 per cent in year 2016, the slowest pace of growth in 26 years but still within the government's target range set for the year, official data showed today.

China's National Bureau of Statistics said, Growth in the fourth quarter came in at 6.8 per cent, accelerating from the 6.7-per cent rise registered in the third quarter but still the slowest quarterly growth since the global financial crisis.

The world's second largest economy slowed down from 6.9 per cent in 2015. China has revised the 2015 figures on January 9 under which the size of the world's second largest economy was officially stated to be 68.91 trillion yuan (USD 9.96 trillion) up 354.6 billion yuan from its preliminary figure.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has directed officials that the economy should not go down 6.5 per cent.