First Half of Year Economy Assessed in China 　　The NPC Financial and Economic Committee has met in recent two days to hear reports on the situation of development of the Chinese economy and related work by leading personnel from concerned departments of the State Council in China in the first six months of this year. Among the various central departments are included the State Development Planning Commission, State Economic and Trade Commission, the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade, the People's Bank of China, State Administration of Taxation and the State Statistical Bureau. Committee members all had their opinions given and suggestions made by studying into the reports delivered at the meeting. 　　By reports of the central departments, China has for its first half of year's GDP achieved a 7.6 % growth over that of the same period of last year. Industry registered a growth of 9.4 %, with an increased interest amount of 48.3 billion yuan for a 93.3 % growth by enterprises, and an increase of 5 billion kg of food grain to be expected in grain production. Meanwhile a 24.3 % rise has been notched in state revenue against a 16 % increase in expenditure and a growth of 19.6 % in taxation throughout China when compared with those in the same period of last year. 　　"Things have been done as a whole in a thoroughgoing and practical way. The Chinese economy has been developing satisfactorily and with good stability", said the whole meeting of the NPC Financial and Economic Committee when speaking about economic work and development of the Chinese economy in the first six months of this year. Economicnews 1999-07-16 Page5 Full Story in Chinese