BBC
China's economy has grown
at its slowest pace in three years as investment slowed and demand fell
in key markets such as the US and Europe.
Gross domestic product rose by 7.6% in the second quarter,
compared with the same period a year ago. That is down from 8.1% in the
previous three months.
In March, Beijing cut its growth target for the whole of 2012 to 7.5%.
China accounts for about a fifth of the world's total economic output and any slowdown may hamper a global recovery.
At the same time, many of Asia's biggest and emerging
economies are becoming increasingly reliant on China as a trading
partner.
"China has been a big factor for the slowdown in Asia this year," said Tai Hui from Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore.
He added that if China's growth does not pick up in the
second half of the year then "that's going to mean a very difficult
second half for a lot of the manufacturers in this region".
