BEIJING, Jan. 8 -- According to a think tank report, 60 percent of economists interviewed forecast that China's 2014 gross domestic product (GDP) growth will stay at about 7.5 percent.

The report was publicized by the Institute of Industrial Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) on Wednesday.

In December 2013, 111 Chinese economists were surveyed for the report, including 16 percent from the CASS and 65 percent from universities.

About 48 percent of the economists believed local governments have difficulties in paying off their debts, while the rest said they are capable of paying off debt.

China will publicize its economic performance on Jan. 20. The country set its 2013 growth rate target at 7.5 percent.