(MorningStar, Oct 19, 2006) China expects its economy to maintain its momentum into the fourth quarter of this year, the statistics bureau spokesman said Thursday.

China still needs to observe the economy before deciding on new macroeconomic control policies, National Bureau of Statistics spokesman Li Xiaochao said.

Earlier Thursday, the bureau said China's economy grew 10.4% in the third quarter from the same period last year, cooling from the second quarter's 11.3% pace. Economists expect the slower growth will likely reduce the severity of future tightening measures in the world's fastest growing major economy.

source:MorningStar