This is the VOA Learning English Economics Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道。

Chinese officials say the country's economy grew last year about the same rate as in 2012. The 7.7 percent growth rate was the slowest growth China has reported since 1999. Yet officials say, the growth rate was still higher than their prediction of 7.5 percent.
中国官员表示，去年该国的经济增长速度与2012年相同。7.7%的增长速度是1999年以来中国报告的最低增速。然而有关官员表示，这一增速仍然高于他们预测的7.5%。

Ma Jiantang is director of China's National Bureau of Statistics. He says it is no easy job to keep growth at over 7.7 percent and inflation low at the same time. That is made more difficult by the size and nature of China's economy, the world's second largest. Mr Ma says this combination of high growth and limited inflation is unusual in the world.
马建堂是中国国家统计局局长。他说，保持7.7%以上增长的同时维持低通货膨胀率并不容易。作为世界第二的中国经济的规模和性质使得这一切更加困难。马局长表示，高增长和有限通胀相结合在全球来说都非比寻常。

China's economy had 10% growth rate in the years before the world financial crisis of 2008. That economic expansion resulted from big trade surpluses and full investment. Now, says Ma Jiantang, China is seeking to move away from that growth model. The country is working to balance exports with demand at home.
在2008年世界经济危机之前的那些年，中国经济增长速度曾达到10%。这一经济增长源于巨额贸易盈余和大量投资。马建堂表示，中国现在正在寻求改变这一增长模式。中国正致力于平衡出口和国内需求。

Recently released information shows that households' spending in China remains lower than in most economies. Chinese government estimates put households' spending at about 36 percent of all goods and services produced within the country, that is down from 49% in 1978. By comparison, Thailand's households' spending represents 56% of its economy.
最新发布的信息显示，中国的家庭支出仍然低于多数经济体。中国政府预计家庭支出在该国国内生产总值所占比例从1978年的49%下降到了36%。相比之下，泰国的家庭支出占到其经济的56%。

Some experts dispute the belief that China's personal consumption is so low. They say businesses often buy goods for their employees to avoid taxes, this means companies are increasing demand for household goods by buying them directly.
一些专家对中国个人消费如此之低的观点表示异议。他们说，各企业通常为员工购买商品以避税，这意味着各公司通过直接购买提升了对日常用品的需求。

Chinese officials say they want to reduce the economic influence of state control businesses and to let market forces shape the economy. However, economists expect China's growth to slow in the coming years. How quickly that happens depends on several issues. The recovery of the United States and European economies means rising demand for Chinese exports.
中国官员表示，他们希望降低国有企业的经济影响力，让市场力量决定经济。然而，经济学家预计未来数年中国经济将有所放缓。而这一切会多快发生取决于数个问题。美国和欧洲经济的复苏对中国出口来说意味着需求上升。

One issue that might slow growth is the expanding node of local government debt, that debt is estimated at about three trillion dollars, or about one third of the size of the economy. China has long tied its estimate of local officials on their ability to grow the economy. Reforms are possible, but some could slow economic growth.
其中一个可能减缓增长的问题是地方债务的扩张节点，预计地方债务大约为3万亿美元，约为中国经济规模的1/3。中国长期将地方官员政绩与其促进经济增长的能力联系起来。改革是可能的，但有些改革可能会减缓经济增长。

The government is moving away from growth to areas such environmental protection, and the ability of local officials to contain debt. Experts say that could also weaken investment and slow growth.
中国政府正从经济增长转向环保等领域及地方官员遏制债务的能力。专家称，这可能会削弱投资并减缓增长。