MNI China Press Digest, Jan 8: GDP, Trade War, Monetary Policy

     BEIJING (MNI) - The following lists highlights from the Chinese press for

Tuesday:

     China's economic growth in 2018 is likely to have met the target of 6.5%

set at the beginning of the year, China Business News reported late Monday

citing Ning Jizhe, director of the National Bureau of Statistics. The total

economic output is expected to be CNY90 trillion, an increase of CNY8 trillion

from 2017, the newspaper said.

     A U.S. warship traveling in Chinese waters won't be significant enough to

affect the trade negotiations between China and the U.S., Global Times said in a

commentary. If the U.S. is trying to use such provocation as a bargaining chip,

it only shows a strong willingness to reach a deal, the newspaper said. Any

possible progress will be in line with the needs of the bilateral relations and

global politics, the newspaper said.

     China's monetary policy still has room for quantitative adjustment, which

can continue to support growth, stabilize employment and boost investment,

Shanghai Securities News reported citing Zhou Xiaochuan, former governor of the

People's Bank of China. China also needs a better coordination between fiscal

and monetary policies, the newspaper said citing Zhou.

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: wanxia.lin@marketnews.com

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 10 8532 5998; email: william.bi@mni-news.com

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