Xi Willing To Accept Slower Growth

Xi Jinping comfortable with lower growth rate for China's economy

President Xi Jinping believes a slight slowdown in economic growth would be acceptable, Li Yang, a deputy head of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told a briefing yesterday as the government think tank said growth could ease to as low as 6.4 per cent.

"[Xi] repeatedly said it wouldn't matter if economic growth slows a little bit. It's nothing worse than delivering a score sheet less pretty than that of the predecessors - even so, it would not be a big deal," Li said, referring to remarks Xi made at a meeting with government economists on July 8.