Growth forecast to exceed 7% in 2013

China's economic growth will be above 7 percent in 2013 — that's the verdict of 85 out of 100 Chinese economists in a survey published by Web portal 163.com on Thursday.

Among them, 18 percent said the economy will expand more than 8 percent next year.

Fifteen percent were less optimistic, saying that the rate would be below 7 percent.

Amid an overall favorable outlook for the economy next year, nearly 60 percent of the economists said the government would maintain a "neutral" monetary policy, while 35 percent said the stance would be more relaxed.

But most of them, 73 percent, suggested that the authorities should do more to lower the tax burden on businesses and consumers in order to let the economy recover.

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