China's national economy has maintained a good momentum of fairly rapid growth since the beginning of this year, Zeng Peiyan, minister in charge of the State Development Planning Commission, said in Beijing Sunday.

Zeng said this at a press conference held on the sidelines of the ongoing 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which opened Friday and will last for a week.

"This year China's GDP (gross domestic product) is expected to exceed 10 trillion RMB yuan (US$1.2048 trillion), an increase of some 8 percent compared with last year," said Zeng in his opening remarks. "The total amount of import and export is likely to reach US$600 billion, and contractual foreign direct investment will possibly record a new high of over US$50 billion."

Zeng also described the past 13 years since 1989 as "the best development period in the Chinese history" in which the broad masses of people have gained the most benefits and the society has enjoyed the highest level of stability. "It is really a prosperous golden age," he said.

Zeng will pick up questions on China's economic development and social progress from foreign and Chinese journalists attending the press conference.

(Xinhua)

Jiang Zemin, in his report to the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, said the Party's door is open to all positive factors of the society, including private entrepreneurs, foreign-invested firm employees, self-employed businessmen and freelance professionals, he also said that the Party should advance with the times. What's your opinion?