China's economy is expected to grow steadily in the coming year, with a 7.6 percent growth rate

in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to a report released on November 24 by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

There will be more emphasis on developing China's western regions next year. The private sector will have more opportunities to develop due to improvements in China's infrastructure, says the report by a panel of CASS experts.

In the past, the report notes, China's township enterprises, amajor contributor to China's economic growth, were booming, but in recent years the situation has changed. According to the report, there are encouraging signs that China's township enterprises are now making a comeback.

The report states that science and technology will play a more active role in China's economic development in the coming year. China's efforts to expand its domestic consumption and improve its market environment will also have a positive influence on economic growth.

The growth rate in China's foreign trade volume has began to increase. In the first three quarters, more than 53 million overseas tourists visited China, producing 10 billion U.S. dollars of foreign exchange for China's tourism, up 14.64 percent from last year. This trend is predicted to continue next year.

The report also says that as long as China is not beset with natural disasters, its agriculture sector will continue smoothly in the coming year.