China's economic growth rate is expected to decrease in 2017, while the GDP growth rate may reach 6.64 percent, 0.06 percentage points below last year's rate, according to a report released in Beijing on Feb. 22.

The report was released at a seminar organized by Xiamen University and Xinhua's Economic Information Daily. It states that competent authorities need to keep the growth rate of investment in infrastructure above 20 percent in order to maintain the GDP growth rate around 6.5 percent.

One current problem in China’s economy is the stalled growth rate of investment, which is caused by a sharp decline in private investment. Moreover, overcapacity and a lack of effective supply have also put pressure on economic growth, according to Lu Shengrong, a professor at the Center for Macroeconomic Research at Xiamen University.

Li Shantong, a researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council, agreed with Lu’s idea, adding that it is essential to increase the proportion of private investment and total investment in the real economy, in order to stimulate economic growth.

Zhang Liqun, another researcher at the State Council research center, pointed out that private investment is sensitive to changes in the market, so its fluctuations reflect changes in economic growth and politics. The growth rate of private investment is expected to pick up this year.