This Jan 17, 2023 aerial photo shows a morning view of Jingtang Port Area at Tangshan Port in Tangshan, north China's Hebei province. (PHOTO /XINHUA)

BEIJING – China is highly confident in meeting its growth target for 2023, said a senior official with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday.

China's gross domestic product grew 5.2 percent year on year in the first three quarters of this year, paving a solid foundation for the country to achieve its annual GDP growth target of around 5 percent in 2023, Sheng Laiyun, deputy head of the NBS said at a press conference.

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There has been a positive recovery and improvement in supply and demand during the first nine months, said Sheng

To fulfill the annual growth target, China's GDP needs to meet a growth target of at least 4.4 percent in the fourth quarter, Sheng added.

The growing momentum in the economic recovery process, a slew of pro-growth policies and a relatively lower base from the same period last year will contribute to the country's economic growth in the fourth quarter, according to the NBS official.

There has been a positive recovery and improvement in supply and demand during the first nine months, said Sheng. 

Additionally, the expectations and operating situation of the real economy sector have also shown positive signs, she added.

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The economic operation will continue its sound momentum in the fourth quarter, said the NBS official.

In the meantime, as favorable policies continue to be implemented, the positive effects will continue to be unleashed, according to the NBS.